Abdul-Rahim chosen as new UMass DC

Photo by Jeffrey Vest/Icon Sportswire via Getty ImagesImproving the defense and finding quality recruiters are among the top priorities for UMass football in 2019.

New head coach Walt Bell may have just checked both boxes with his newest staff appointee.

Azzaar Abdul-Rahim is set to become the new defensive coordinator in Amherst. Abdul-Rahim comes over from Maryland, where he served as defensive backs coach for the past three seasons.

Bell previously coached with Abdul-Rahim at Maryland in 2016-2017.

Prior to Maryland, Abdul-Rahim served as assistant director of player personnel and defensive analyst at Alabama. Previously, Abdul-Rahim also helped found the Friendship Collegiate Academy’s…