Report: Virginia Tech targeting Arizona Cardinals linebackers coach Sam Siefkes as defensive coordinator

Virginia Tech is close to adding a new assistant coach to its defensive staff, according to a report from ESPN’s Pete Thamel.

Thamel reports that the program is targeting Arizona Cardinals linebackers coach Sam Siefkes as the new defensive coordinator. The defensive coordinator gig came open when Brent Pry overhauled his staff this offseason, firing previous defensive coordinator Chris Marve.

“Our on-field results have not met our standards,” Pry said after the staff firings. “As head coach, it is my responsibility to make the necessary changes to restore this program to its rightful place among college football’s best and deliver the success Hokie Nation deserves.”

Pry would be hoping Sam Siefkes can be the answer to the woes on the defensive side of the ball. Virginia Tech finished the 2024 season ranked 57th nationally in total defense, giving up 363.0 yards per game. It also finished 39th in scoring defense, yielding 22.8 points per game.

Siefkes has spent the last two seasons with the Cardinals. He spent two years with the Minnesota Vikings prior to that.

Though he has some previous college coaching experience, the bulk of Sam Siefkes’ recent experience has come at the NFL level.

Before he jumped to the NFL to work with the Vikings, Siefkes spent three seasons at Wofford (2018-20) as the defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach. In 2019, he led the nation’s 20th ranked defense that helped guide the program to its third straight Southern Conference Championship and fourth straight appearance in the FCS Playoffs. The defense ranked first in the conference in total defense and rushing defense and second in scoring defense.

Sam Siefkes spent two seasons as the defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach at UW-Platteville before that, from 2016-17.

In 2015, he was a graduate assistant on the defensive side of the ball at Wisconsin.

In 2014, Siefkes spent a year as a quality control coach at Florida International. He was a student assistant at Wisconsin-La Crosse from 2012-13.