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Maryland Introduces Aazaar Abdul-Rahim As Interim Football Head Coach
Maryland’s Athletic Director James E. Smith introduced Aazaar Abdul-Rahim as the Terrapins interim head coach at SECU Stadium, Tuesday afternoon. Abdul-Rahim addressed the media for the first time as the Terrapins begin a new chapter following Mike Locksley’s departure.
The news conference comes less than a week after Maryland parted ways with Locksley on Wednesday Oct. 21, following the program's 37-30 loss to Rutgers. The coaching change came during the Terps’ bye week, giving Abdul-Rahim additional time to prepare for his first game at the helm of the Terrapins program.
The Washington, D.C., native is no stranger to College Park or the DMV area. Abdul-Rahim is in his sixth season with Maryland across two stints, having served as a defensive backs coach from 2016 to 2018 before returning in 2024. In his current tenure in the Terrapins program, he has worked as the cornerbacks coach and co-defensive coordinator.
His coaching career also includes stints at Alabama, UMass and Boston College. At Alabama, he worked as a defensive analyst and assistant director of player personnel during the 2014 and 2015 seasons. He later served as UMass’ defensive coordinator before joining Boston College, where he coached defensive backs. Later in his career at Boston College, he became associate head coach and co-defensive coordinator.
Despite his experience at the collegiate level, Abdul-Rahim’s coaching roots began in the District.
Abdul-Rahim founded the football program at Friendship Collegiate Academy in Northeast, D.C. in 2003, beginning a decade-long tenure as head coach. He helped establish the school as a prominent football program, earning 62 victories and helping more than 100 athletes secure college scholarships.
That vision produced results in 2012, when Friendship captured its first DCSAA championship with a 48-12 victory over Dunbar, Abdul-Rahim’s alma mater.
Abdul-Rahim's First Test Arrives This Weekend Against Illinois
Abdul-Rahim takes over a Terrapins football program that is 2-5 overall and winless in Big Ten play, having lost five consecutive games. The Terps have also been outscored 92-13 in the second half of their four conference matchups, highlighting a recurring inability to maintain leads and close out games.
As Maryland's interim head coach, Abdul-Rahim's first test will come against an Illinois team that is 4-3 overall and 2-2 in conference play after defeating Oregon, 21-10, last Saturday. The game is scheduled for noon at SECU Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 31 and will air on FS1.
With the Terps searching for their first Big Ten victory of the year, the immediate priority is clear. That is to restore confidence, improve late-game execution and deliver a response against Illinois. How Abdul-Rahim handles those challenges could shape not only Maryland’s finish to the season, but also its direction heading into the next coaching era.
