University of South Carolina (Upstate)

"Having worked alongside Sharif for six years I am glad to have the opportunity to share what I witnessed day in and day out in our department. Sharif is an exceptional coach and a consummate professional. He invests an extraordinary amount of time into his players' holistic development pushing them to excel tactically while steadfastly supporting their academic and personal growth. In an industry where pressures are high, he maintains a high ethical compass and fosters a team culture rooted in accountability and mutual respect. He was an incredible asset to our athletic department, always willing to help or lead, and any university would be fortunate to have his leadership. Wish he was an AD so I could work for him."

"Playing for Sharif was intense. He's extremely demanding and constantly challenges you. For players who wanted to be great, he was the absolute best ever, for those who couldn't handle relentless high standards on and off the field, he definitely grinded on them. But no matter how hard he pushed, he always supported you and helped you through it no matter what. What made Sharif different was his authenticity. As a minority player, I spent years dealing with microaggressions and stereotypes. Being labeled. When he shared his story about growing up Muslim and his family's struggles around 9/11, that raw vulnerability changed everything. It connected us on a deeper level about what it means to navigate a world that boxes you in. He also adds diversity to all his rosters just look. Now that I'm coaching, I realize how rare his impact is. Sharif has remained a constant resource to this day always a text or phone call away when I need guidance. He taught me how to turn our shared resilience into power, and he leads with absolute integrity."

"Coach Saber is the only reason my daughter went to Upstate. He recruited her out of HS, promised us he'd take care of her away from home and actually meant it. He built that entire program from nothing. NOTHING. When he left I told her to get out and transfer immediately. She stayed because of her friends and now she's stuck dealing with a coach that doesn't care about the players at all. They lie, cheat, and bully players. The administration fed everyone a line of garbage about where the program was heading. If you're looking at Upstate now don't bother. Lies. If Sharif is coaching somewhere else send your kid to play for him right now. As a mom he was the best coach my kid ever had. He's a winner and he actually looks out for the families."

"Coming into college I was honestly terrified I wouldn't be able to keep up with the physical and mental demands. But playing for Coach Saber completely changed my perspective. He didn't just help me adjust to the college game he gave me the space to actually find my confidence on the field. What means the most to me is that he treats us like people first and athletes second. Every practice and film session is designed to make you better and you can tell he genuinely cares about our future long after we graduate. He will push you to your limits, and you won't always like him, but he cares about you. Choosing this program was the best decision I’ve ever made and I wouldn’t trade my teammates or coaches for anything."

"Coach is genuinely goated. He gives his all for the squad and makes you actually want to grind for him. If you ever get the chance to play for him, do it. He'll push you to go crazy on the field and always has your back off it."