Lucas has been named along with CEO Ian Robson and general manager of football operations Paul Hamilton on a panel that will forward a recommendation to the club’s board.
In a statement on Friday, the club said the three-man panel would also seek input from people with senior AFL coaching experience and “specialist expertise”.
Matthew Knights was sacked as senior coach last Sunday, less than 24 hours after the Bombers’ season ended with a fourth consecutive defeat.
Hamilton said the new coach “will need to understand where Essendon is at as a club and where we want to go.
“They will have a plan to continue the development of the playing group - building on the foundations established over the past three years by Matthew Knights.
“They will be an outstanding ambassador for the club off the field and will be a coach that all Essendon people will be proud of.”
Hamilton said the selection process may take several weeks, and while it was preferred that the coach should be appointed before trade week, it was not necessary.
"It will not hamper what we do," he said.
Lucas retired at the end of the 2009 season after 270 matches and 471 goals. He won two best and fairest awards and was a member of the 2000 premiership team.
