USF makes Abdur-Rahim among AAC’s highest paid men’s basketball coaches

Bulls’ men’s basketball coach Amir Abdur-Rahim is one to take to social media, whether it’s to encourage students to crowd the Yuengling Center, or to advertise one of his numerous on-campus appearances. 

In true character – after signing a 6-year, $11.55 million contract last Wednesday to keep him at USF until 2030 –  he voiced his thoughts online. 

“I know the commitment that was made,” Abdur-Rahim said in the video posted on X last Friday.  “I made that commitment a long time ago. I’m gonna double down on that.” 

USF doubled down on Abdur-Rahim, too, enough to raise his salary by nearly $4 million. 

He originally signed a 6-year, $7.35 million contract last April. 

With his new contract, the university made him the second-highest paid men’s basketball coach in the American Conference – a resounding statement of confidence in the man that arguably led USF to its best season in history in just his first year on campus. 

The Bulls won a program-record 25 games last season en route to their first NIT appearance since 2010, a season that culminated in Abdur-Rahim being named the AAC Coach of the Year. 

Related: Season in review: Taking a look at USF men’s basketball’s magical run

Abdur-Rahim will continue to receive an annual base salary of $500,000, plus additional compensation for promotional activities, fundraising events and media broadcasts. 

He will receive $1.8 million in total pay next season, excluding bonuses. His additional compensation increases by $50,000 each year, with his salary topping out at $2.05 million during the 2029-2030 season. 

He received a salary of $1.1 million last season, excluding bonuses. As outlined in his initial contract, Abdur-Rahim will maintain an automobile stipend of $800 or a courtesy car, as well as a provisional country club membership. 

Abdur-Rahim now trails Memphis’ Penny Hardaway as the AAC’s highest paid basketball coach, surpassing Wichita State’s Paul Mills, who will earn just under $1.6 million next season, according to the Wichita Eagle. 

Hardaway is set to receive a salary of $2.7 million next season, according to the University of Memphis.

Related: USF men’s basketball was gutted by the transfer portal. Here’s who remains on the roster.

His contract also slightly tops that of former Bulls head coach Brian Gregory, who received an annual salary of $1.6 million as part of his contract extension in 2022. 

Gregory was fired less than two years into his three-year extension.

Abdur-Rahim’s contract is nearly triple the annual compensation of women’s basketball coach Jose Fernandez, a perennial NCAA tournament participant and two-time AAC Coach of the Year. 

Fernandez’s annual salary tops out at $800,000. His $750,000 salary last season was the highest of all women’s basketball coaches in the AAC, according to USA Today.

Abdur-Rahim will look to replicate a heroic season with a new-look supporting cast.  

The Bulls have endured a tumultuous offseason with the losses of their three top-scorers – guards Chris Youngblood and Selton Miguel and forward Kasean Pryor. 

Youngblood transferred to Final Four participant Alabama. Miguel and Pryor landed at Maryland and Louisville, respectively. 

Abdur-Rahim isn’t backing down. 

“I ain’t resting,” he said in the video. “I want more.” 

Additional reporting by Joshua Hightower.