Brent Pry describes how Sam Siefkes will coach as defensive coordinator

Virginia Tech is ready for a new era on defense under first-year coordinator Sam Siefkes. The Hokies hired Siefkes to replace Chris Marve, who was fired after three seasons with the team.

Siefkes was most recently the linebackers coach for the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals, leading to some speculation about whether he would also work heavily with that position group in Blacksburg. According to head coach Brent Pry, however, he will spend an equal amount of time with every position and be a true defensive coordinator.

“He’ll oversee it all,” Pry said. “He’ll be a walkaround coordinator. …Sam gets in town tomorrow and he’s gonna meet with each of our defensive coaches. Then he and I are gonna sit down at the beginning of the week and kind of sort through positions responsibilities, needs. Do we bring in an additional quality control person to kind of assist him with some things that’s familiar with the package? So we’ve still got some work to do there.”

With Siefkes’ help, the Cardinals ranked top 10 in the NFL in second-half points allowed, opponent red zone scoring percentage and touchdowns allowed in 2024. He’ll hope to be part of getting Virginia Tech to take the next step defensively as the Hokies enter their fourth season under Pry.

Sam Siefkes also spent two seasons as the linebackers coach for the Minnesota Vikings, bringing his total NFL experience to four years. Only adding to his intrigue, he brings experience as a defensive coordinator at the college level too, but never with a program from one of the major conferences.

Siefkes was the defensive coordinator at Wofford, where his team ranked first in total and rushing defense in the FCS for two straight seasons. The Terriers advanced to the playoffs both in 2018 and 2019 under his direction.

“What he ran at Wofford and what they do at Arizona, I’m excited about,” Pry said. “It involves us, over the next several weeks, sitting down and watching film, watching cut ups. Having discussions about what’s good that we’ve done that we want to keep, what marries up well with what he wants to do. What will our personnel allow?”

Virginia Tech was not too bad on defense last season, ranking 57th and 39th in total and scoring defense, respectively. But perhaps with Siefkes’ coaching, it can kick it up a notch and make some noise in the ACC next season.