That life, and all it encompassed, will endure far, far longer than Abdur-Rahim’s fleeting USF tenure. The comet that whizzed past our region created an enthralling gust that blew our hair back, breathed fresh air into a moribund program and salvaged a fan base’s psyche.

The school said he died from complications that presented while he was undergoing a procedure at a Tampa-area hospital.

Rahim, head coach of the University of South Florida men’s basketball team died Thursday. The university said in a statement that the 43-year-old was undergoing a medical procedure at a Tampa-area hospital when complication arose during the procedure.