Football Welcomes Abdul-Rahim, Paschall To Coaching Staff

AMHERST, Mass. - University of Massachusetts football head coach Walt Bell officially welcomed two members of his coaching staff on Friday with the introduction of Aazaar Abdul-Rahim and Luke Paschall. Abdul-Rahim serves as the team's defensive coordinator and cornerbacks coach while Paschall is the assistant head coach, special teams coordinator and wide receivers coach.

"It is exciting to have both Aazaar and Luke join our staff," Bell said. "Aazaar brings great energy to every room he is in, is a relentless recruiter whose kids love to play for him and, most of all, is a great person. Luke is the best special teams coach I've ever worked with and is a teacher of the game who demands excellence every single day from the young men he coaches."

Highly regarded for his coaching acumen and equally sought after for his established ability to evaluate and recruit, Abdul-Rahim brings experience at the high school and collegiate levels to Amherst, including most recently tenures with the Alabama and Maryland programs.

"I am excited for this chance to work alongside Walt (Bell) again, and to lead this defense," Abdul-Rahim said. "I share Walt's vision for what the future of this program can hold and we are hard at work to make it happen."

An accomplished leader who guided many of the most successful special teams units and wide receiver corps in Arkansas State history, Paschall joins the University of Massachusetts staff following five seasons as the special teams coordinator and receivers coach at North Carolina (2018) and Arkansas State (2014-17).

"Joining Coach Bell's staff and the UMass family is truly an honor," Paschall said. "I not only get to be around and learn from one of the great minds in this profession, but I get to be around my brother. My wife, Lauren, and daughter, Emma Rose, are looking forward to being a part of the UMass community."

Complete bio information on Abdul-Rahim and Paschall follows below. Keep up-to-date with the UMass football program on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook and learn about all 21 UMass varsity programs via UMassAthletics.com.

Aazaar Abdul-Rahim • Defensive Coordinator/Cornerbacks Coach • San Diego State '99

Abdul-Rahim spent the prior three seasons at Maryland working in the secondary. Abdul-Rahim developed Maryland's defensive backs into one of the strongest units in the Big Ten, with all-conference recognition given to Darnell Savage, Jr., and Antoine Brooks, Jr., in 2017 and 2018, JC Jackson in 2017 and Tino Ellis in 2018.

In addition to his coaching duties, Abdul-Rahim was instrumental in the Terps' recruiting efforts. He was a key factor in Maryland signing a consensus top-20 recruiting class in 2017 and a top-30 group in 2018. During his final two years as a member of the staff, Maryland inked 17 four-star student-athletes and eight members of the ESPN 300 to National Letters of Intent. As a result, Abdul-Rahim was recognized by 247Sports in 2018 as one of the top recruiting assistant coaches in the Big Ten.

Overall, 2018 was a rousing success on the recruiting trail and in the secondary for the Terrapins. Abdul-Rahim oversaw the recruiting efforts as Maryland collected its consensus top-30 class before he helped the Terps' defense develop into one of the most disruptive in the nation. The defense recorded 23 turnovers forced, including 18 interceptions and five fumble recoveries, and added 32 pass breakups. The 18 interceptions ranked tied for the fifth-most in FBS during the season.

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

Abdul-Rahim also made an impact coaching Maryland's defensive backs. In 2017, the Terps posted 10 interceptions on the year, which ranked as the most for a Maryland team since 2003.

Abdul-Rahim joined the Maryland staff in 2016 after a two-year stint at Alabama, where he first served as a defensive analyst in 2014 before he was promoted to the assistant director of player personnel in 2015.

During his two seasons at Alabama, the Crimson Tide were selected for the College Football Playoff in both years and won the national championship during 2015. Additionally, Alabama collected the No. 1-ranked recruiting class in the nation during each season, according to 247Sports.

Abdul-Rahim, a Washington, D.C. native, made his mark in his hometown as the head coach of Friendship Collegiate Academy. After he founded the school's football program in 2004, Abdul-Rahim turned it into a national powerhouse and accumulated 62 wins during his tenure while he also lead 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 is also the founder "Cover One", a defensive back training academy that works with dozens of NFL players on skill development.

Abdul-Rahim competed collegiately for San Diego State (1997-99) after a stint at Mesa Community College. After college, the Dunbar High School standout competed for the San Diego Riptide of the Arena Football League.

Luke Paschall • Assistant Head Coach/Special Teams Coordinator/Wide Receivers Coach • Middle Tennessee State '06

During his year in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Paschall oversaw the development of a balanced Tar Heels wide receiver unit and a stout special teams group that ranked among the nation's most successful over the course of the 2018 season.

The UNC special teams group posted quality numbers among the nation's leaders in kickoff return defense (19.35; 35th), punt return defense (3.5; 10th) and punt return average (14.3; 16th). Individually, return specialist Dazz Newsome ranked No. 4 in FBS for punt return average (15.1) and sixth with three punt return touchdowns, while kicker Freeman Jones ranked 11th in the country for field goals per game (1.64).

Spearheaded by all-ACC choice Anthony Ratliff-Williams, who ranked sixth in the ACC for receiving yards per game, the UNC wide receivers corps spread 14 touchdown catches across nine targets. The group averaged nearly 250 receiving yards and more than 22 receptions per game in 11 contests during 2018.

Paschall arrived at UNC following four successful seasons at Arkansas State, which included four bowl games and a pair of Sun Belt championships. The Red Wolves won at least seven games in each of Paschall's four seasons and took home their conference crowns in 2015 and 2016.

Under his direction, the Red Wolves' receiving corps and special teams units excelled and helped the team break the school record for total offense and scoring offense while they also ranked among the top teams in the nation in numerous special teams' statistical categories from 2014-17.

Paschall's guidance of the outside receivers and the special teams unit in 2017 aided the Red Wolves as they made their fourth consecutive bowl trip as both units sustained high levels of success throughout the season.

Arkansas State's special teams unit ranked among the nation's leaders in punt return defense (2nd; 2.0), punt return average (9th; 13.70) and net punting (21st; 40.35) with two blocked kicks and one blocked punt. On the offensive side, the wide receiver corps accounted for 30 of the team's 38 touchdown catches, which went as the program record for most in a single season.

Individually, Paschall oversaw the development of key playmakers on offense and special teams, including 2017 All-Sun Belt selections Omar Bayless (wide receiver), Cody Grace (punter), Justin McInnis (wide receiver), Chris Murray (wide receiver), Blaise Taylor (return specialist) and Sawyer Williams (kicker).

The 2016 campaign came to a close emphatically with senior receiver Kendall Sanders earning Cure Bowl MVP honors after he recorded three touchdown receptions, which tied the school record for a postseason game. Sanders, also named an All-Sun Belt Conference selection, was among four A-State receivers that caught at least 20 passes and produced over 300 yards. Sanders led the way with 38 catches for 553 yards and seven touchdowns, while seven others hauled in at least one scoring catch. The group helped A-State post 3,148 passing yards, the fourth-most in school history.

His 2015 receiving corps was responsible for 154 of the team's 207 receptions and produced 2,192 combined yards for the squad that finished the season with the fifth most passing yards in school history. The group also recorded 19 receiving touchdowns, including All-Sun Belt Second Team selection Tres Houston with a school-record-tying 10.

Additionally, Paschall coached All-SBC First Team selection J.D. McKissic, who signed as a free agent with the NFL's Atlanta Falcons, for the final two years of his career. McKissic stands as the Sun Belt Conference's all-time leader in receptions and A-State's all-time leader in receiving yards. The 2015 season also saw sophomore Dijon Paschal earn All-SBC honors, which gave the Red Wolves three all-conference wideouts.

Under Paschall's leadership, A-State's 2014 receivers combined for 223 receptions, 2,685 yards and 14 touchdowns as the Red Wolves completed the year with a school-record tying 25 passing touchdowns and the third most passing yards (3,381) and completions (276) in the program's history.

Paschall tutored eight receivers, including Houston (All-Sun Belt Conference) and Paschal (Sun Belt Conference Newcomer Team), who set career-best numbers for receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns. Among the group, Houston caught a team-high 53 passes – the 10th most in school history – while McKissic moved into third place at Arkansas State for career receiving yards and former walk-on Booker Mays recorded three touchdown receptions in the GoDaddy Bowl for the second-most ever by an A-State player in a single game.

Three of Paschall's receivers, including Houston, McKissic and Paschal, all recorded over 600 receiving yards and posted at least 37 catches.

Overseeing special teams as well, Paschall helped the Red Wolves rank among the nation's leaders in at least four statistical categories each of his four seasons.

The 2016 season saw A-State stand third in the nation in kickoff return defense (16.13 average) and among the top eight teams in blocked kicks (5) and blocked punts (2). Coaching return specialist Blaise Taylor for the third consecutive season, Paschall saw the junior earn All-Sun Belt Second Team honors after breaking the school record for career punt return yards with 781 to his credit. Taylor returned a punt for a touchdown in each of his four seasons, which ranked him among the top seven active players in the nation in the category.

The 2015 Red Wolves ranked No. 7 in blocked kicks (4), No. 8 in kickoff returns (25.9 ypg), No. 13 in net punting (40.39 avg.), No. 18 in kickoff return defense (18.7 avg.), No. 23 in punt return defense (4.70 avg.) and No. 30 in punt returns (11.5 avg.). The squad posted 413 punt return yards, which were the third most in school history and the most by an A-State team since 1975. The Red Wolves also averaged a school-record 25.9 yards per kickoff return, while returning two kickoffs and one punt for a touchdown.

Under the direction of Paschall, McKissic was a All-Sun Belt First Team choice at the all-purpose position and Taylor completed the season with a career-best 322 punt return yards that were the second most in A-State history.

The year prior, A-State ranked No. 4 in the nation in kickoff return defense (16.31 ypr), No. 9 in punt return defense (3.10 ypr), No. 19 in net punting (39.82) and No. 31 in kickoff returns (22.49 ypr). Additionally, the Red Wolves' 41.6 team punting average was the second highest in school history, while their 22.5 yards per kickoff return ranked tied for the fourth highest.

Paschall coached Taylor, who ranked second in the league and 35th in the nation in punt return average, All-Sun Belt Conference Second Team laurels as well. The true freshman's 234 punt return yards were the fifth most in school history at the time, and he returned three punts for a season-high 104 yards (school-record 34.7 yards per return) and one touchdown against Appalachian State. Taylor's touchdown return was the first by an A-State player since 2007.

Paschall tutored junior punter Luke Ferguson, A-State's second all-time leader in punting average, during the final two years of his career as well. Paschall's leadership also helped backup quarterback Stephen Hogan break the school record for punting average in a game (58.0) during the 2014 campaign.

Paschall spent the previous two seasons working with Arkansas State head coach Blake Anderson and he also served on the coaching staffs at Ole Miss, Oklahoma State and Mississippi Gulf Coast Community over a seven-year period before arriving at A-State.

A former player under Anderson at Middle Tennessee, Paschall was a part of eight bowl games as a coach, and helped each of his former schools compile statistical numbers that ranked among the top teams in the nation.

Working primarily with the special teams while also assisting with the wide receivers during his two seasons at North Carolina as a graduate assistant, Paschall was part of a coaching staff that led the Tar Heels to 15 victories and a win over Cincinnati in the 2013 Belk Bowl.

The 2013 UNC squad led the nation in punt return average (18.13 ypr) and ranked fourth in punt return defense (2.9 ypr), 10th in net punting (40.3 average), 19th in kick return average (23.8 ypr) and 28th in passing offense (277.4 ypg). The 2012 Tar Heels finished first in the ACC and 10th in the nation in net punting during Paschall's first season at the school.

Paschall's time at North Carolina saw him work with some of the team's most productive players at the wide receiver and special teams positions. All-ACC wide receiver Quinshad Davis ranked 22nd in the nation with 10 touchdown receptions and 13th in the ACC with 730 receiving yards in 2013. Davis led the team in receiving in 2012 with 61 receptions for 776 yards and five touchdowns to earn freshman all-America honors from College Football News as well.

Heavily involved with UNC's special teams, Paschall coached FWAA Freshman All-American and CFPA Punt Returner of the Year Ryan Switzer in 2013. Switzer turned in one of the most impressive seasons in school history when he broke the ACC record and tied the NCAA's best mark for punt returns for touchdowns (5). He finished the season with a school-record 502 punt return yards and a 20.9 average per attempt.

The Tar Heels' 2012 special teams unit included second team all-conference punter Tommy Hibbard and their punt return team, led by All-ACC return man Giovani Bernard, ranked 10th in the country. Bernard was also named the CFPA Punt Returner of the Year.

Paschall arrived at UNC after spending one season at Ole Miss as an offensive graduate assistant coach under Houston Nutt. He was primarily responsible for working with the wide receivers and tight ends, but also assisted with the Rebels' special teams.

Ole Miss ranked third in the nation in punt returns and 24th in net punting Paschall's lone season at the school, where he worked with wide receiver Donte Moncrief during his freshman all-America season.

Paschall spent the 2008-10 seasons at Oklahoma State in a quality control position (2010) and as an offensive graduate assistant (2008-09).

With at OSU, Paschall was primarily responsible for helping coach the wide receivers and quarterbacks positions as a graduate assistant, working with future NFL quarterback Zac Robinson and NFL wide receiver Dez Bryant during his tenure. He helped lead OSU to the 2008 Holiday Bowl and the 2009 Cotton Bowl, while the Cowboys also played in the 2010 Alabama Bowl. Oklahoma State's 2008 team ranked sixth in the nation in total offense (487.7 ypg) and ninth in scoring offense (40.7 ppg).

The 2007 season saw Paschall serve as wide receivers coach at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, where he helped lead the Bulldogs to an NJCAA national championship victory over Kilgore in the H.O.T. Bowl played in Copperas Cove, Texas. The Bulldogs ranked 20th in the NJCAA in total offense that season.

Prior to joining MGCCC, Paschall was a four-year letterman at the wide receiver position at Middle Tennessee. The former walk-on who earned a scholarship as a sophomore hauled in a personal-best 13 receptions for 156 yards and a touchdown as a senior.

A native of Dickson, Tennessee, Paschall earned a psychology degree in 2006 and a master's in sports management in 2007 from Middle Tennessee State University.

Luke and his wife, Lauren, have one daughter, Emma Rose.

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