College of Charleston Athletics

Amir Abdur-Rahim (pronounced UH-mere ab-durr-RA-heem) was promoted to associate head coach at the College of Charleston on June 26, 2013, and is in second season with the Cougars.

 

Abdur-Rahim, 32, serves as CofC's recruiting coordinator with strong regional ties in the Georgia and Atlanta areas and the Carolinas. He came to CofC after spending the 2011-12 season as director of player development under head coach Brian Gregory at Georgia Tech.

 

“Amir has been everything that I thought he would be,” Wojcik said. “He was highly-recommended a year ago, I knew he would be a great fit. After a year’s time, Amir has been an active recruiter and has an unbelievable feel for our players. He has everything you want and are looking for in a head coach. He is knowledgeable, can teach and is great with parents and players. I am happy to promote him to the title of associate head coach. There is no question in my mind that Amir will run his own program in the near future. I think so much of him and his wife, Arianne.”

 

Prior to Georgia Tech, Abdur-Rahim spent three seasons as an assistant coach at Murray State, helping the Racers post a 73-26 record, win two Ohio Valley Conference championship titles and participate in the NCAA Tournament in 2010 and Postseason NIT in 2011.

 

"I am really excited to join and contribute to the program," Abdur-Rahim said. "Knowing the tradition and all of the great players who have come through the College of Charleston over the years such as Anthony Johnson and current Los Angeles Lakers guard Andrew Goudelock - it is a place where great players have played and teams have continually won under Coach (John) Kresse and Coach (Bobby) Cremins.

 

"I am grateful for the opportunity to work for Coach Wojcik and to continue that winning tradition at The College. I have seen the great things he and his staff accomplished at Tulsa and I'm excited to work for and learn from him. He is one of the best in the business with his extensive coaching background, pedigree and knowledge of the game."

 

Abdur-Rahim spent two seasons as a graduate assistant at Murray State, before briefly taking a position at his alma mater, Wheeler High School, in Marietta, Ga. As he began the school year there in 2008, he received a call from Kennedy, who recruited him to Southeastern Louisiana University in 2001, to come back to MSU and he accepted.

 

As a player, Abdur-Rahim enjoyed an outstanding four-year career at SLU from 2001-04 and was a large part in helping build the Lions' program. He was a three-time All-Southland Conference selection and led the team in scoring three-straight seasons and finished as the school's seventh all-time scorer with 1,282 points. More importantly, Abdur-Rahim helped turn a program that had a 7-20 record to one that went 20-9 and won a regular-season conference title in only three years.

 

A native of Atlanta, he earned his bachelor's degree in general business from Southeastern Louisiana in 2004 and his master's degree in organizational communication from Murray State in 2008. Abdur-Rahim is one of 13 children in his family and is the younger brother of former NBA All-Star and current assistant general manager of the Sacramento Kings, Shareef Abdur-Rahim. He is happily married to the former Arianne Buchanan.

 

"I would not be in this position if it weren't for guys like Billy Kennedy and Brian Gregory," Abdur-Rahim said. "They prepared me for this opportunity and I am forever indebted to them. Georgia Tech was a special place that was very near and dear to me. The program has made great strides in just one year under the leadership of Coach Gregory. He is someone I know I can always call and go to for advice. He does a great job of building relationships and kids have a lot of respect for him. They are in great hands."