Aazaar Abdul-Rahim
{{Short description|American football player and coach (born 1976)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox college coach
| name = Aazaar Abdul-Rahim
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| current_title = Co-defensive coordinator, defensive backs coach
| current_team = Maryland
| current_conference = Big Ten
| current_record =
| contract =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1976|11|1}}
| birth_place = Washington, D.C., U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| alma_mater =
| player_years1 = 1995–1996
| player_team1 = Mesa (AZ)
| player_years2 = 1997–1999
| player_team2 = San Diego State
| player_years3 = 2000–2002
| player_team3 = San Diego Riptide
| player_positions = Defensive back
| coach_years1 = 2003–2013
| coach_team1 = Friendship Collegiate (DC)
| coach_years2 = 2014
| coach_team2 = Alabama (analyst)
| coach_years3 = 2015
| coach_team3 = Alabama (asst. DPP)
| coach_years4 = 2016–2017
| coach_team4 = Maryland (DB)
| coach_years5 = 2018
| coach_team5 = Maryland (CB)
| coach_years6 = 2019
| coach_years7 = 2020
| coach_team7 = Boston College (DB)
| coach_years8 = 2021–2022
| coach_team8 = Boston College (AHC/PGC/DB)
| coach_years9 = 2023
| coach_team9 = Boston College (co-DC/DB)
| coach_years10 = 2024–present
| coach_team10 = Maryland (co-DC/DB)
| overall_record =
| bowl_record =
| tournament_record =
| championships =
| awards =
| coaching_records =
}}
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.
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.{{cite web |title=Aazaar Abdul-Rahim |url=https://umterps.com/coaches.aspx?rc=1007&path=football |website=umterps.com |publisher=University of Maryland SID |access-date=April 25, 2019}}
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,{{cite news |last1=Goldenbach |first1=Alan |title=Knights Have Finally Arrived |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2008/09/01/ST2008090103364.html?noredirect=on |access-date=April 29, 2019 |newspaper=Washington Post |date=September 2, 2008}} 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.{{cite news |last1=Ermann |first1=Jeff |title=Sources: Schools Pursuing Highly Regarded Maryland Assistant |url=https://247sports.com/college/maryland/Article/Aazaar-Abdul-Rahim-Maryland-Football-Assistant-has-Offers-as-Terps-Chase-Mike-Locksley-125700257/ |access-date=April 28, 2019 |work=247sports.com |agency=247sports.com |date=December 1, 2018}}
=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. He was on the 2015 Alabama coaching staff that won the National Championship.{{Cite web |last=Lucas |first=Raymond |date=September 21, 2023 |title=Revisiting Alabama's loaded 2015 coaching staff, history of Nick Saban and Lane Kiffin ahead of Week 4 clash |url=https://247sports.com/longformarticle/revisiting-alabamas-loaded-2015-coaching-staff-history-of-nick-saban-and-lane-kiffin-ahead-of-week-4-clash-216531166/ |access-date=2024-07-22 |website=247Sports |language=en}}
=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.
=UMass=
In 2019, new head coach Walt Bell hired Abdul-Rahim as the new defensive coordinator and cornerbacks coach at UMass.{{cite web |title=Aazaar Abdul-Rahim |url=https://umassathletics.com/coaches.aspx?rc=1398&path=football |website=umassathletics.com |publisher=University of Massachusetts SID |access-date=April 27, 2019}}
=Boston College=
In 2020, new head coach Jeff Hafley hired Abdul-Rahim as the new defensive backs coach at Boston College Eagles football.{{Cite web |last=Black |first=A. J. |date=2020-01-09 |title=Boston College Hires Aazaar Abdul-Rahim As Defensive Backs Coach |url=https://www.si.com/college/bostoncollege/football/aazaar-abdul-rahim-boston-college-defensive-backs-coach |access-date=2024-01-10 |website=Sports Illustrated |language=en}} Prior to the 2021 season, Abdul-Rahim was promoted to associate head coach and defensive pass game coordinator.{{cite web |title=Aazaar Abdul-Rahim |url=https://bceagles.com/sports/football/roster/coaches/aazaar-abdul-rahim/1923 |website=bceagles.com |publisher=Boston College SID |access-date=January 1, 2022}}
Personal life
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Big Ten Conference defensive coordinator navbox}}
{{2015 Alabama Crimson Tide football navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Abdul-Rahim, Aazaar}}
Category:American football defensive backs
Category:Alabama Crimson Tide football coaches
Category:Boston College Eagles football coaches
Category:Maryland Terrapins football coaches
Category:Mesa Thunderbirds football players
Category:San Diego Riptide players
Category:San Diego State Aztecs football players
Category:UMass Minutemen football coaches
Category:High school football coaches in Washington, D.C.
Category:Junior college football players in the United States