Alabama's Aazaar Abdul-Rahim to become Maryland def. backs coach

Alabama assistant director of player personnel Aazaar Abdul-Rahim will be defensive backs coach for new Maryland coach D.J. Durkin, according to a sources.

Alabama assistant director of player personnel Aazaar Abdul-Rahim will be defensive backs coach for new Maryland coach D.J. Durkin, according to a sources.

Abdul-Rahim was initially hired by Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban as a defensive analyst in February 2014. He was promoted to the program’s assistant director of player personnel in March.

A renowned talent evaluator, Abdul-Rahim is a major recruiting coup for Durkin. Abdul-Rahim is the former head coach at powerhouse Friendship Collegiate Academy in Washington D.C.

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The 39-year-old founded the resilient charter school’s football program in 2004 and turned it into a national force with a 62–39 record in his 10 seasons. He guided the charter school to the District of Columbia State Athletic Association championship in ’12.

While at Friendship, Abdul-Rahim had nearly 100 players receive scholarships to play college football, including star Florida sophomore cornerback Jalen Tabor and former Florida State defensive tackle Eddie Goldman.

Durkin became Maryland’s coach last week after serving as Michigan’s defensive coordinator and linebackers coach this past season. The 37-year-old is regarded as one of college football’s brightest young defensive minds.

He was also previously defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Florida from 2013–14, a stint that included him leading the Gators to a 28–20 win over East Carolina as interim coach in the Birmingham Bowl in ’14.

At Maryland, Durkin replaced Randy Edsall, who was fired in October amidst a 2–4 start. He had a 22–33 record, including a 10–23 mark in conference play, in his five seasons with the Terrapins.

Maryland finished 3–9 this season, which included a 1–7 record in the Big Ten.