Aazaar Abdul-Rahim Named Defensive Backs Coach
January 09, 2020 | Football
One of the top recruiters in the country joins Jeff Hafley’s staff
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – Boston College head football coach Jeff Hafley announced the hiring of Aazaar Abdul-Rahim as defensive backs coach. Abdul-Rahim comes to the Heights after spending the 2019 season at UMass as defensive coordinator and cornerbacks coach.
"Aazaar is one of the top recruiters in college football and will be a tremendous addition to our program," Hafley said. "He was with Coach Saban at Alabama working with the defensive backs and most recently comes to us from UMass where he was defensive coordinator. Aazaar is what we are all about: he has high character and is someone who loves people. We are excited to add a great football coach like Aazaar to our BC football family."
The Washington, D.C., native is highly regarded for his coaching acumen and equally sought after for his established ability to evaluate and recruit. Abdul-Rahim has experience at the high school and collegiate levels, including Alabama and Maryland.
Prior to UMass, Abdul-Rahim spent the three seasons at Maryland working in the secondary. Abdul-Rahim developed Maryland's defensive backs into one of the strongest units in the Big Ten, with all-conference recognition given to Darnell Savage, Jr., and Antoine Brooks, Jr., in 2017 and 2018, JC Jackson in 2017 and Tino Ellis in 2018.
In addition to his coaching duties, Abdul-Rahim was instrumental in the Terps' recruiting efforts. He was a key factor in Maryland signing a consensus top-20 recruiting class in 2017 and a top-30 group in 2018. During his final two years as a member of the staff, Maryland inked 17 four-star student-athletes and eight members of the ESPN300 to National Letters of Intent. As a result, Abdul-Rahim was recognized by 247Sports in 2018 as one of the top recruiting assistant coaches in the Big Ten.
Overall, 2018 was a rousing success on the recruiting trail and in the secondary for the Terrapins. Abdul-Rahim oversaw the recruiting efforts as Maryland collected its consensus top-30 class before he helped the Terps' defense develop into one of the most disruptive in the nation. The defense recorded 23 turnovers forced, including 18 interceptions and five fumble recoveries, and added 32 pass breakups. The 18 interceptions rank tied for the fifth-most in FBS during the season.
In 2017, Abdul-Rahim was vital in aiding the Terps in landing nine of the top 20 players from the state of Maryland and three of the top nine players from Washington, D.C. Rivals.com and 247Sports recognized him as one of the top 25 recruiters nationally for the class of 2017.
Abdul-Rahim also made an impact coaching Maryland's defensive backs. In 2017, the Terps posted 10 interceptions on the year, which ranked as the most for a Maryland team since 2003.
Abdul-Rahim joined the Maryland staff in 2016 after a two-year stint at Alabama where he first served as a defensive analyst in 2014 before he was promoted to the assistant director of player personnel in 2015.
During his two seasons at Alabama, the Crimson Tide were selected for the College Football Playoffs in both years and won the national championship during 2015. Additionally, they collected the No. 1-ranked recruiting class in the nation during each season, according to 247Sports.
Abdul-Rahim, a Washington, D.C. native, made his mark in his hometown as the head coach of Friendship Collegiate Academy. After he founded the school's football program in 2004, Abdul-Rahim turned it into a national powerhouse and accumulated 62 wins during his tenure while he also led the team to a District of Columbia State Athletic Association championship in 2012. He helped over 100 players earn scholarships to play college football.
Abdul-Rahim is also the founder "Cover One", a defensive back training academy that works with dozens of NFL players on skill development.
Abdul-Rahim played three seasons at San Diego State (1997-1999) after a stint at Mesa Community College. After college, the Dunbar High School standout competed for the San Diego Riptide of the Arena Football League.
The Abdul-Rahim File
Birthday: Nov 1, 1976
Hometown: Washington, D.C.
Alma Mater: San Diego State, 1998
Coaching Career
2019: UMass (Defensive Coordinator/Cornerbacks)
2018: Maryland (Cornerbacks)
2016-17: Maryland (Defensive Backs)
2015: Alabama (Assistant Director of Player Personnel)
2014: Alabama (Defensive Analyst)
2004-13: Friendship Collegiate Academy (Head Coach)
"Aazaar is one of the top recruiters in college football and will be a tremendous addition to our program," Hafley said. "He was with Coach Saban at Alabama working with the defensive backs and most recently comes to us from UMass where he was defensive coordinator. Aazaar is what we are all about: he has high character and is someone who loves people. We are excited to add a great football coach like Aazaar to our BC football family."
The Washington, D.C., native is highly regarded for his coaching acumen and equally sought after for his established ability to evaluate and recruit. Abdul-Rahim has experience at the high school and collegiate levels, including Alabama and Maryland.
Prior to UMass, Abdul-Rahim spent the three seasons at Maryland working in the secondary. Abdul-Rahim developed Maryland's defensive backs into one of the strongest units in the Big Ten, with all-conference recognition given to Darnell Savage, Jr., and Antoine Brooks, Jr., in 2017 and 2018, JC Jackson in 2017 and Tino Ellis in 2018.
In addition to his coaching duties, Abdul-Rahim was instrumental in the Terps' recruiting efforts. He was a key factor in Maryland signing a consensus top-20 recruiting class in 2017 and a top-30 group in 2018. During his final two years as a member of the staff, Maryland inked 17 four-star student-athletes and eight members of the ESPN300 to National Letters of Intent. As a result, Abdul-Rahim was recognized by 247Sports in 2018 as one of the top recruiting assistant coaches in the Big Ten.
Overall, 2018 was a rousing success on the recruiting trail and in the secondary for the Terrapins. Abdul-Rahim oversaw the recruiting efforts as Maryland collected its consensus top-30 class before he helped the Terps' defense develop into one of the most disruptive in the nation. The defense recorded 23 turnovers forced, including 18 interceptions and five fumble recoveries, and added 32 pass breakups. The 18 interceptions rank tied for the fifth-most in FBS during the season.
In 2017, Abdul-Rahim was vital in aiding the Terps in landing nine of the top 20 players from the state of Maryland and three of the top nine players from Washington, D.C. Rivals.com and 247Sports recognized him as one of the top 25 recruiters nationally for the class of 2017.
Abdul-Rahim also made an impact coaching Maryland's defensive backs. In 2017, the Terps posted 10 interceptions on the year, which ranked as the most for a Maryland team since 2003.
Abdul-Rahim joined the Maryland staff in 2016 after a two-year stint at Alabama where he first served as a defensive analyst in 2014 before he was promoted to the assistant director of player personnel in 2015.
During his two seasons at Alabama, the Crimson Tide were selected for the College Football Playoffs in both years and won the national championship during 2015. Additionally, they collected the No. 1-ranked recruiting class in the nation during each season, according to 247Sports.
Abdul-Rahim, a Washington, D.C. native, made his mark in his hometown as the head coach of Friendship Collegiate Academy. After he founded the school's football program in 2004, Abdul-Rahim turned it into a national powerhouse and accumulated 62 wins during his tenure while he also led the team to a District of Columbia State Athletic Association championship in 2012. He helped over 100 players earn scholarships to play college football.
Abdul-Rahim is also the founder "Cover One", a defensive back training academy that works with dozens of NFL players on skill development.
Abdul-Rahim played three seasons at San Diego State (1997-1999) after a stint at Mesa Community College. After college, the Dunbar High School standout competed for the San Diego Riptide of the Arena Football League.
The Abdul-Rahim File
Birthday: Nov 1, 1976
Hometown: Washington, D.C.
Alma Mater: San Diego State, 1998
Coaching Career
2019: UMass (Defensive Coordinator/Cornerbacks)
2018: Maryland (Cornerbacks)
2016-17: Maryland (Defensive Backs)
2015: Alabama (Assistant Director of Player Personnel)
2014: Alabama (Defensive Analyst)
2004-13: Friendship Collegiate Academy (Head Coach)
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