KENNESAW, Ga. — When Kennesaw State men’s basketball team hold their first practice after an historic 2022-23 season, they will do so with a new head coach.

Kennesaw State announced Wednesday Amir Abdur-Rahim has accepted the head coaching position at the University of South Florida in Tampa.

The Owls won the Atlantic Sun Conference tournament to secure their first-ever NCAA Tournament bid. They lost to Xavier in the opening round.

“I want to thank our student-athletes, coaches, staff, Owl Nation and the Kennesaw Community for a historic four years at Kennesaw State,” said Abdur-Rahim in a news release. “These decisions are never easy nor made without a ton of thought and prayer.”

Under Abdur-Rahim’s guidance, he led the Owls to a 26-9 record, their first winning season in the school’s Division 1 history. It marked a dramatic turnaround from his first season in 2019-20 when KSU finished 1-28.

Associate Head Coach Ben Fletcher will serve as the interim head coach while a national search for Abdur-Rahim’s replacement beings.

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