Alabama assistant Aazaar Abdul-Rahim takes NFL's minority fellowship
Alabama assistant director of player personnel Aazaar Abdul-Rahim will serve in the Bill Walsh NFL Minority Coaching Fellowship with the Baltimore Ravens this summer, according to a league source.
Abdul-Rahim was promoted to his current position with the Crimson Tide in March after previously serving as a defensive analyst. A renowned talent evaluator, Abdul-Rahim was hired 16 months ago after working as the head coach at powerhouse Friendship Collegiate Academy in Washington D.C.
The annual fellowship was launched in 1987 and is aimed to create more job opportunities for minority coaches. Each NFL team is encouraged to hire a minimum of four participants, who generally work through the duration of training camp, including all preseason games.
The 38-year-old Abdul-Rahim founded the resilient Friendship Collegiate Academy'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.
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While at Friendship, Abdul-Rahim had nearly 100 players receive college scholarships to play football, including star Florida sophomore cornerback Jalen Tabor and former Florida State defensive tackle Eddie Goldman. Abdul-Rahim is well connected in his native Washington D.C., a coup for Alabama in an increasingly fertile area for recruits.
Alabama had a 12-2 record last season, which included a loss to eventual national champion Ohio State in the semifinal of the inaugural College Football Playoff. The Crimson Tide return 11 starters next season, led by junior running back Derrick Henry.
