Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG – Virginia Tech football is ushering in a new era under Head Coach Brent Pry, and the Hokies are already seeing the effects of his transformative vision. Pry has made headlines by bringing in NFL-caliber talent to reshape the program, with defensive coordinator Sam Siefkes at the forefront of the revamp. With a coaching career that spans the NFL, FBS, FCS and Division III, Siefkes brings a wealth of knowledge and a fresh perspective to the Hokies' defense.
Siefkes' coaching journey began with notable collegiate stints at the University of Wisconsin in 2015, where he contributed to the Badgers' nation-leading defense, helping them rank No. 1 in scoring defense and No. 2 in total defense. As a coordinator at Wofford from 2018-2020, Siefkes’ defenses ranked first in total and rushing defense, leading the program to back-to-back Southern Conference Championships and FCS playoff appearances. Under his leadership, Wofford’s defense ranked eighth in the nation for scoring defense in 2018, helping the team advance to the second round of the FCS playoffs with a 9-4 record.
Reflecting on his time at Wofford, Siefkes highlighted the importance of establishing solid fundamentals and building a strong defensive culture—values he aims to bring to the program.
“The biggest thing is, if you have foundational pieces for what you’re trying to do within the culture of the defense, that kind of sets the parameters and pillars of who you want to be,” Siefkes explained. “We want to play with great effort and be violent at the point of attack. In order to play great defense, you’ve got to do those things. And, of course, we’ll be founded on stopping the run, which has always been important to me. That’s the first thing, and the rest comes as you go through the process of playing great defense.”
That defensive mindset was reinforced during his transition to the professional level, where he spent two seasons with the Minnesota Vikings. After building stout run defenses at Wofford, Siefkes took on a new challenge in the NFL, first serving as a defensive quality control coach in 2021 before being promoted to assistant linebackers coach in 2022. In that role, he helped linebackers Eric Kendricks and Jordan Hicks combine for 265 tackles, both finishing among the league’s top 20 in that category. Hicks also ranked second among NFL linebackers in passes defended.
Siefkes’ time with the Vikings also provided the chance to learn from legendary defensive coach Mike Zimmer, who became a key mentor in Siefkes’ development.
“Zimmer was really influential in opening my eyes to a different world,” Siefkes said. “Probably the best third down guy I’ve ever been around, he taught me different ways to attack protections and offenses. That was really beneficial for my growth and getting to a spot like this.”
