Tem Lukabu enters his second season with the Carolina Panthers as the outside linebackers coach after three seasons as the defensive coordinator at Boston College (2020-22). Lukabu brings 16 years of coaching experience, including seven in the NFL, to the team.
In his first season in Carolina (2023), Lukabu helped fourth year outside linebacker Yetur Gross-Matos record career highs in quarterback hits (10), sacks (4.5) and tackle for loss (7). Outside linebacker Brian Burns was one of four players in the NFL this season with at least 8.0 sacks, 15 tackles for loss, 17 quarterback hits, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and one strip sack this season.
In 2022, Boston College ranked in the top-50 nationally in several defensive categories, including first downs allowed (240, 38th), passing yards allowed per game (211.2, 44th) and team tackles for loss per game (6.8, 26th). Sophomore defensive end Donovan Ezeiruaku was named All-ACC Second Team after finishing the season ranked second in the ACC in sacks per game. Additionally, five other players, at all three levels of the defense, earned All-ACC Honorable Mention.
Under Lukabu's direction, the Eagles ranked third nationally with 173.5 passing yards allowed per game (2021). The Eagles were also top-30 nationally in six other defensive categories. Four members of his defense earned All-ACC honors, including a second-team, third-team and two honorable mentions. In his first season at Boston College (2020), Lukabu oversaw a defense that jumped from finishing 125th in total defense the year prior to his arrival to 73rd.
Lukabu served as the linebackers coach for the Cincinnati Bengals (2019) and coached the linebackers at Mississippi State (2018) and helped a defensive unit finish the season ranked first in FBS and the SEC, with two starters earning All-SEC honors.
From 2016-17, Lukabu served as the defensive quality control coach with the San Francisco 49ers. He worked primarily with the 49ers' linebackers (2016), before shifting his focus to the team's secondary (2017).
In 2015, Lukabu served as the defensive line coach at Florida International University. In 2014, he served as the outside linebackers coach at his alma mater, Colgate University.
Prior to his time at Colgate, Lukabu spent two seasons (2012-13) as a defensive assistant for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He joined Tampa Bay following two seasons at Rutgers (2010-11), and two at the University of Rhode Island, where he coached outside linebackers at both stops.
A former linebacker himself, Lukabu was a four-year letterman and three-year starter at Colgate (2000-03). He helped the Raiders to back-to-back Patriot League titles and was named the conference's Defensive Player of the Year in both 2002 and 2003. He was a first-team All-Patriot League selection both seasons and was named a third-team AP All-American.
Lukabu was born in Kinshasa, the capital and largest city in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in central Africa. He earned a bachelor of arts degree in history with a minor in political science from Colgate (2004). He and his wife, Kate, have three children — daughters, Zaida, Kamryn, and son Pax.
2006-07 | Rutgers – Player Development Graduate Assistant
2008-09 | Rhode Island - Outside Linebackers
2010-11 | Rutgers - Outside Linebackers
2012-13 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Defensive Assistant
2014 | Colgate - Outside Linebackers
2015 | Florida International - Defensive Line
2016-17 | San Francisco 49ers - Defensive Quality Control
2018 | Mississippi State - Linebackers
2019 | Cincinnati Bengals - Linebackers
2020-22 | Boston College - Defensive Coordinator
2023-pres | Carolina Panthers - Outside Linebackers
