Lehigh University Athletics
Staff Directory
Tom Jurkovec
- Title:
- Linebackers Coach
- Email:
Tom Jurkovec joined the Lehigh coaching staff in March 2025. He is in his second season as Lehigh’s linebackers coach.
In his first season, Jurkovec coached the linebackers that contributed to the top rushing defense in the FCS. The Mountain Hawks allowed just over 70 rushing yards per game and also ranked in the top five nationally in scoring defense, total defense and sacks. Brycen Edwards led Lehigh with 83 tackles and added nine tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. William Parton stepped in alongside Edwards and ranked second on the team with 63 stops, while Cole Hughes emerged to provide depth to the unit.
A Pittsburgh-area native, Jurkovec comes to Lehigh after three seasons at Boston College, including the last two as a graduate assistant working with the defensive line and linebackers. Jurkovec helped BC’s rushing defense grow from a unit that ranked 121st in FBS football in 2023 to one that ranked in the top 25 nationally last season.
In 2021, Jurkovec served as the defensive backs coach at Washington & Jefferson college in Washington, Pa. He mentored a pair of all-conference defensive backs during his time with the Presidents.
Jurkovec’s first coaching position came at his alma mater, Duquesne University, where he worked as the assistant linebackers coach during 2020 and the spring 2021 season, working primarily with the Dukes’ outside linebackers.
As a student-athlete at Duquesne, Jurkovec was a three-year letterwinner and two-year starter as a linebacker, and was a member of the Dukes’ 2016 and 2018 NEC championship teams. He was a three-time member of the NEC Academic Honor Roll.
Jurkovec graduated from Duquesne in 2020 with degree in business administration with a major in finance, and added a master’s degree in sports administration from Boston College.
In his first season, Jurkovec coached the linebackers that contributed to the top rushing defense in the FCS. The Mountain Hawks allowed just over 70 rushing yards per game and also ranked in the top five nationally in scoring defense, total defense and sacks. Brycen Edwards led Lehigh with 83 tackles and added nine tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. William Parton stepped in alongside Edwards and ranked second on the team with 63 stops, while Cole Hughes emerged to provide depth to the unit.
A Pittsburgh-area native, Jurkovec comes to Lehigh after three seasons at Boston College, including the last two as a graduate assistant working with the defensive line and linebackers. Jurkovec helped BC’s rushing defense grow from a unit that ranked 121st in FBS football in 2023 to one that ranked in the top 25 nationally last season.
In 2021, Jurkovec served as the defensive backs coach at Washington & Jefferson college in Washington, Pa. He mentored a pair of all-conference defensive backs during his time with the Presidents.
Jurkovec’s first coaching position came at his alma mater, Duquesne University, where he worked as the assistant linebackers coach during 2020 and the spring 2021 season, working primarily with the Dukes’ outside linebackers.
As a student-athlete at Duquesne, Jurkovec was a three-year letterwinner and two-year starter as a linebacker, and was a member of the Dukes’ 2016 and 2018 NEC championship teams. He was a three-time member of the NEC Academic Honor Roll.
Jurkovec graduated from Duquesne in 2020 with degree in business administration with a major in finance, and added a master’s degree in sports administration from Boston College.
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