Following arguably the best season in its Division I history, Kennesaw State men’s basketball head coach Amir Abdur-Rahim has signed a four-year contract extension, Director of Athletics Milton Overton announced Thursday. Abdur-Rahim’s contract will now run through the 2026-27 season.
In his third year at the helm, the Marietta native guided the Owls to a 13-18 overall record and a win in the 2022 ASUN Conference Tournament. The Owls’ 13 total wins on the season surpassed the combined win total from the previous three seasons (12). KSU went 7-9 in the ASUN under Abdur-Rahim this season, which clinched the Owls a fourth-place finish in the East Division and earned the team its first home postseason contest in its Division I history, an eventual 82-73 victory over Eastern Kentucky in the ASUN first round.
The future looks bright for the Owls, as Abdur-Rahim signed the 61st-ranked recruiting class in the nation in his first year after being hired in April of 2019. They made up the backbone of the Owls’ starting lineup this season, and all five starters will be returning for the 2022-23 season.
“Coach Abdur-Rahim has worked tirelessly towards the success of KSU athletics and of our men’s basketball program,” said Kennesaw State University President Kat Schwaig. “The achievements of the team this last season show the strength of our program and of his commitment to the future. I join all of Owl Nation in congratulating Coach Abdur-Rahim and look forward to cheering the team on to greater heights next season.”
“Coach Abdur-Rahim has worked hard in elevating the men’s basketball program into a contender in the ASUN,” said Overton. “The atmosphere and excitement in the Convocation Center was obvious this season, and the efforts put in by Coach Abdur-Rahim and his staff were on display with the team’s play. He has done a great job of bringing in the quality of student-athletes that we want in the basketball program, and has kept them here at KSU as well. I look forward to watching the men’s basketball program’s continued progress.”
“My family, staff, and I are extremely appreciative of the belief and support that President Kat Schwaig, the Board of Regents, and AD Overton have in us to continue our vision for the men’s basketball program,” said Abdur-Rahim. “In the microwave environment of college athletics today, to still have leadership like ours here at Kennesaw State who are able to see and have patience in building a program to sustain over time is invaluable.”
To our academic support, strength team and athletic training staff, thank you for helping us create a great environment and drive our culture. I want to thank every player that I’ve have had the honor to coach here in my time at KSU. Each one of you has helped us get to this point. Lastly, to my staff, you men are the reason we’ve made the strides we have. Thank you for your loyalty, friendship, and sacrifice. As we go forward, know that we understand that the job isn’t finished because our ultimate goal is to graduate our student-athletes, and bring an ASUN championship and NCAA tournament berth to Kennesaw State University.”
This past season, the Owls set program-highs for both KemPom and NCAA NET rankings, at 223 and 224, respectively. The previous high in the team’s Division I history had been 252 (KenPom) and 250 (NET). The Owls also set program-highs for scoring margin, field goal percentage, field goal defense and most three-pointers made.
