Aazaar Abdul-Rahim

Last updated
Aazaar Abdul-Rahim
Current position
TitleCo-Defensive Coordinator/Defensive backs coach
Team Maryland
Conference Big 10
Biographical details
Born (1976-11-01) November 1, 1976 (age 47)
Washington, D.C., U.S.
Playing career
1995–1996 Mesa Community College
1997–1999 San Diego State
2000–2002 San Diego Riptide
Position(s) Defensive back
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
2003–2013 Friendship Collegiate (DC)
2014 Alabama (analyst)
2015Alabama (asst. DPP)
2016–2017 Maryland (DB)
2018Maryland (CB)
2019 UMass (DC/CB)
2020 Boston College (DB)
2021–2022Boston College (AHC/PGC/DB)
2023Boston College (co-DC/DB)
2024–presentMaryland (co-DC/DB)

Aazaar Abdul-Rahim (born November 1, 1976) is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach at Maryland. He served as the head football coach at Friendship Collegiate Academy Public Charter School in his native Washington, D.C. from 2003 to 2013.

Contents

Playing career

Abdul-Rahim played defensive back for Mesa Community College from 1995 through 1996, before transferring to San Diego State. He played for the Aztecs from 1997 through 1999. Following his college career, he competed for the San Diego Riptide. [1]

Coaching career

Friendship Collegiate Academy

Following his playing career, Abdul-Rahim founded the football program at Friendship Collegiate Academy in Washington, D.C. in 2003. The school had only been open since 2000. The Knights started play in the 2004 season. After a winless inaugural season, [2] Abdul-Rahim turned FCA into a national powerhouse, routinely playing top ranked teams from the area. In 2012, Abdul-Rahim led the Knight to a District of Columbia State Athletic Association championship. During his tenure, he won 62 games, and produced over 100 Division I football players. [3]

Alabama

Abdul-Rahim joined the Alabama football staff as a defensive analyst for the 2014 season. The next season, he was promoted to assistant director of player personnel. [1]

Maryland

In 2016, Abdul-Rahim joined new head coach D. J. Durkin's staff at Maryland as the defensive backs coach. He was also a huge part of the recruiting efforts, particularly for his ties to the D.C. area. Abdul-Rahim was named a top 25 recruiter by both Rivals.com and 247sports in 2017. In 2018, he shifted his focus from the entire secondary, to primarily working with the cornerbacks. [1]

UMass

In 2019, new head coach Walt Bell hired Abdul-Rahim as the new defensive coordinator and cornerbacks coach at UMass. [4]

Boston College

In 2020, new head coach Jeff Hafley hired Abdul-Rahim as the new defensive backs coach at Boston College Eagles football. [5] Prior to the 2021 season, Abdul-Rahim was promoted to associate head coach and defensive pass game coordinator. [6]

Personal life

Abdul-Rahim also founded “Cover One”, a defensive back training academy that has worked with dozens of NFL players. [4]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Deshea Townsend</span> American football player and coach (born 1975)

Trevor Deshea Townsend is an American football coach and former cornerback who most recently served as the passing game coordinator and cornerbacks coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League (NFL). He previously worked as an assistant coach for the Chicago Bears, New York Giants, Tennessee Titans and Arizona Cardinals.

Brian Stewart is an American football coach who is the defensive coordinator for Middle Tennessee. He was previously the defensive backs coach at Baylor University and defensive coordinator at Rice University for the 2017 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike Locksley</span> American football player and coach (born 1969)

Michael Anthony Locksley is an American football coach. He is currently the head football coach at the University of Maryland, a position he has held since 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Don Brown (American football coach)</span> American football player and coach (born 1955)

Don Brown is an American college football coach and former player. He is the head football coach at the University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMass), a position he held from 2004 to 2008 and resumed prior to the 2022 season. In between his two stints as UMass, Brown was the defensive coordinator at the University of Maryland, College Park, the University of Connecticut, Boston College, the University of Michigan, and the University of Arizona. He served as the head football coach at Plymouth State University from 1993 to 1995 and Northeastern University from 2000 to 2003. Brown was also the interim head baseball coach at Yale University in 1992, tallying a mark of 26–10.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Reed (American football)</span> American football player and coach (born 1972)

Michael Jerome Reed is an American football coach and former player who is currently the special teams coordinator and cornerbacks coach at Clemson University. He previously served as an assistant coach at North Carolina State University, Philadelphia Eagles, University of Richmond and Kiel Baltic Hurricanes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chuck Heater</span> American football player and coach (born 1952)

Chuck Heater is an American football coach and former player. He was a running back for the University of Michigan from 1972 to 1974 and finished his playing career as the fifth all-time leading rusher in Michigan Wolverines football history. Heater has been an assistant football coach at ten universities since 1976. He has been affiliated with College Football Hall of Fame coaches Bo Schembechler, Earle Bruce, and Lou Holtz. He has been on coaching staffs of national championship teams at Notre Dame (1988) and Florida.

Jonathan David Hoke is an American football coach who is the Passing game coordinator and cornerbacks coach for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL). He previously served as the defensive coordinator at the University of Maryland, College Park from 2019 to 2020 and also served as the defensive backs coach for the Atlanta Falcons, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Houston Texans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Travaris Robinson</span> American football player and coach (born 1981)

Travaris Jerod Robinson is an American football coach and former safety who is the co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach at the University of Georgia. Prior to that, he was the cornerbacks coach at the University of Alabama and the defensive backs coach at the University of Miami. He played college football at Auburn. Thereafter, he played professionally for the Atlanta Falcons and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the NFL.

Joe Woods is an American football coach who is the defensive coordinator for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). A coaching veteran of 26 years, Woods has previously served as an assistant coach for the San Francisco 49ers, Denver Broncos, Oakland Raiders, Minnesota Vikings and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, as well as defensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns.

Jeff Hafley is an American football coach who is the defensive coordinator for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL). He previously served as the head coach at Boston College from 2020 to 2023.

Dennard Wilson is an American football coach and former safety who is the defensive coordinator for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League (NFL). He is a former American football safety in the NFL who was signed as a free agent by the Washington Redskins in 2004. He played college football at the University of Maryland and matriculated with a bachelor's degree in Communications.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Johnson (safety)</span> American football player (born 1995)

John Johnson III is an American football safety for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Boston College.

Francis Brown is an American football coach and former cornerback who is currently the head coach at Syracuse University. He is the former defensive backs coach at Georgia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team</span> American college football season

The 2019 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team represented Rutgers University during the 2019 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Scarlet Knights played their home games at SHI Stadium in Piscataway, New Jersey and competed as members of the East Division of the Big Ten Conference. They were led by fourth-year head coach Chris Ash. On September 29, 2019, Ash was fired after 313 seasons as head coach. He posted an overall record of 8–32 and 3–26 in Big Ten play. Nunzio Campanile was their interim head coach for the remainder of the season. They finished the season 2–10, 0–9 in Big Ten play to finish in last place in the East Division.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ryan Walters (American football)</span> American football player and coach (born 1985)

Ryan Walters is an American football coach and former safety, who is the current head football coach for the Purdue Boilermakers. He played college football for Colorado from 2004 to 2008. He then served as the defensive coordinator for the Missouri Tigers (2018–2020) and the Illinois Fighting Illini (2021–2022).

Bryan Brown is an American football coach. He is currently a defensive coordinator at Ole Miss. He previously served as defensive coordinator at Cincinnati, as well as Appalachian State and Louisville under current Cincinnati head coach Scott Satterfield. He has also played at Ole Miss.

Jovan Dewitt is an American football coach and former player who is currently the defensive coordinator at FIU. After an All-American playing career, Dewitt has spent the majority of his coaching career coordinating either special teams or defenses.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 Colorado State Rams football team</span> American college football season

The 2022 Colorado State Rams football team represented Colorado State University as a member of the Mountain Division of the Mountain West Conference (MW) during the 2022 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Led by first-year head coach Jay Norvell, the Rams compiled an overall record of 3–9 with a mark of 3–5 in conference play, placing fifth in the MW's Mountain Division. Colorado State played home games at Sonny Lubick Field at Canvas Stadium in Fort Collins, Colorado,

Jay Valai is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the assistant head coach for defense, co-defensive coordinator, and pass defense coach at the University of Oklahoma.

Steve Casula is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the tight end coach at the University of Michigan.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Aazaar Abdul-Rahim". umterps.com. University of Maryland SID. Retrieved April 25, 2019.
  2. Goldenbach, Alan (September 2, 2008). "Knights Have Finally Arrived". Washington Post. Retrieved April 29, 2019.
  3. Ermann, Jeff (December 1, 2018). "Sources: Schools Pursuing Highly Regarded Maryland Assistant". 247sports.com. 247sports.com. Retrieved April 28, 2019.
  4. 1 2 "Aazaar Abdul-Rahim". umassathletics.com. University of Massachusetts SID. Retrieved April 27, 2019.
  5. Black, A. J. (2020-01-09). "Boston College Hires Aazaar Abdul-Rahim As Defensive Backs Coach". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 2024-01-10.
  6. "Aazaar Abdul-Rahim". bceagles.com. Boston College SID. Retrieved January 1, 2022.