University of Maryland Athletics

Aazaar Abdul-Rahim returns to the Maryland Football coaching staff in 2024 for a second stint in College Park. From 2016-18, he coached the Terrapin defensive backs. Abdul-Rahim will coach the cornerbacks, adding duties as Maryland's co-defensive coordinator and associate head coach for defense. 

Abdul-Rahim spent the last four years coaching at Boston College. He was elevated prior to the 2023 season to serve as BC's co-defensive coordinator, while retaining his coaching responsibilities with the Eagle defensive backs.

The Boston College secondary flourished under Abdul-Rahim's tutelage, ranking fourth in the ACC by allowing just 197.1 yards per game through the air in 2023. Abdul-Rahim mentored First Team All-ACC selection Elijah Jones, who led the conference in interceptions (5) and passes defended (13).

Adbul-Rahim and his secondary helped BC rank third nationally in passing yards allowed (173.5 per game) during the 2021 season. The Eagles were also top-30 nationally in six other defensive categories: total defense, red zone defense, first downs allowed, third down percentage, team passing efficiency, and defensive touchdowns.

Abdul-Rahim came to Boston College after spending the 2019 season at UMass as a defensive coordinator and cornerbacks coach.

A former high school head coach with strong ties to the DMV area, Abdul-Rahim has made significant impacts for the Terps on the recruiting trails since his arrival in 2016. He's been key in helping Head Coach DJ Durkin and Maryland sign a consensus Top 20 recruiting class in 2017 and a consensus Top 30 recruiting class in 2018. Over the past two years, Maryland has signed 17 4-star student-athletes and eight members of the ESPN300. Abdul-Rahim was recognized by 247Sports in 2018 as one of the Top 10 recruiting assistant coaches in the Big Ten.

In 2017, Abdul-Rahim was vital in helping the Terps land nine of the Top 20 players from the state of Maryland and three of the top nine players from Washington, D.C. He was recognized by both Rivals.com and 247Sports as one of the Top 25 recruiters nationally for the class of 2017.

Abdul-Rahim has also made an impact coaching Maryland's defensive backs. In 2017, the Terps posted 10 interceptions - the most for a Maryland team since 2003. Under Abdul-Rahim's tutelage, defensive backs JC Jackson, Darnell Savage and Antoine Brooks were all named 2017 Honorable Mention All-Big Ten. 

Abdul-Rahim joined the Maryland staff in 2016 after a two-year stint at Alabama where he first served as a defensive analyst before being promoted to the assistant director of player personnel.

A Washington, D.C. native, Abdul-Rahim made his name as the head coach of Friendship Collegiate Academy. After founding the school’s football program in 2004, he turned it into a national power, accumulating 62 wins and leading 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 also founded “Cover One”, a defensive back training academy that has worked with dozens of NFL players.

Abdul-Rahim played two seasons at San Diego State (1997-1998) after a stint at Mesa Community College. After college, the Dunbar High School standout, played for the San Diego Riptide of the Arena Football League.