Lukkes Gilgan joined the Bruin coaching staff in March of 2025, serving as the defensive coordinator for Fox.
Gilgan comes to the Bruins after nine seasons as the defensive coordinator at NWC rival Pacific University, also spending five years as the Assistant Head Coach for the Boxers.
In Gilgan’s time in Forest Grove, the Boxers had some of the best in program history, with Jack Perez being named NWC Defensive Player of the Year in 2016, as well as becoming the first Boxer to be named All-American honors. In 2024, the Boxers had three First Team, the Second Team, and two Honorable Mention All-NWC players on defense.
In addition to his duties at Pacific, he has been involved with USA Football. In January 2019, he led the 2019 United States Under-19 Select Team as Head Coach against Team Nuevo Leon, an Under-19 team of top players across Mexico as part of the 10th annual International Bowl Series at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. In 2018 he was selected as the Defensive Coordinator for the 2019 United States Under-19 Select Team against Team Nordic, an under-19 team made up of the top players across Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden.
Prior to his time with the Boxers, Gilgan spent one season as a graduate assistant coach at the University of New Mexico. In 2014, he was accepted that year to the NFL-NCAA Coaches Academy, where he was one of just 30 coaches nationwide accepted to the program. He also was selected for the AFCA 30 Under 30 Future Football Coaches Academy in 2013.
Gilgan was a four-year letterwinner for the Willamette playing in 38 games during his career. He was a team captain, earned First Team All-NWC honors in 2009 and received the team’s “James Scarriot Strongest Link” award.
