I.M. Ibrahim

Dr. Ibrahim M. Ibrahim, 67, of Anderson, South Carolina, otherwise known as "Coach", died suddenly Saturday, July 12, 2008.

He was the head soccer coach at Clemson University from 1967-1994 and was founder of the program. He coached Clemson to two of the school's four National Championships in any sport in history. His soccer teams won National Championships in 1984 and 1987. His overall career record was 388-100-31 and he retired in 1994 as the nation's fifth winningest soccer coach. He coached 16 Tigers who earned 24 All-American honors. Fifty-one Tigers were named to the All-ACC first-team 92 times. He coached three U. S. Olympians and eight Clemson players who were named ACC Players-of-the-Year 12 times. He also coached Bruce Murray who was the recipient of NCAA soccer's most prestigious honor, the Hermann Award. His Clemson teams made 17 NCAA appearances and 6 NCAA Final Four appearances. During his tenure, Clemson Soccer finished in the Top 20 in the nation for 18 seasons. In addition, he coached Clemson Soccer to 11 ACC Championships and 13 regular season titles.

Dr. Ibrahim earned his undergraduate degree from Shorter College, his Master's Degree from Clemson University, and concluded his education with a Ph.D. in Chemisty from Clemson University in 1970. His is an inductee into the Clemson University Athletic Hall of Fame, the Shorter College Athletic Hall of Fame, and the South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame. He was honored by South Carolina Governor Dick Riley with the Order of the Palmetto in February, 1985. In 1974, Coach Ibrahim founded The Tiger Sports Shop, Inc. and served as its president since that time. His hobbies included golf, music, fine wine, and sports car collecting.

He is predeceased in death by his father Moayyad Ibrahim and his mother, Raifeh Ibrahim of Haifa, Israel. He is survived by his loving wife, Julie Walker Ibrahim; his son, Darian Ibrahim and his wife, Jamie, of Tucson, Arizona; his son, Lee Ibrahim and his wife, Amanda, of Central, South Carolina; and his stepson, Ryan Jones, his wife Endia and granddaughter Naiya Rose of Clarkston, Georgia. Also surviving are his sister, Sherine Lauwers of Brussels, Belgium; his brother, Samir Ibrahim of Castaic, California; and a niece, Nathalie Lauwers of Paris, France.

Dr. Ibrahim was interred on Sunday in a private ceremony with the family in attendance. A memorial service will be held Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. at Cross Creek Plantation Country Club in Seneca, South Carolina.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Rotary Club of Clemson, P.O. Box 1475, Clemson, SC 29633; or to the Islamic Society of Clemson, 1009 Old Stone Church Road, Clemson, SC 29631.

Condolences may be expressed online at www.robinsonfuneralhomes.com or in person at Duckett-Robinson Funeral Home, Central, which is assisting the family.