The Virginia Tech Hokies are poised to make a transformative hire for their defense, tapping into cutting-edge NFL concepts to upgrade their scheme. Sources indicate that Tech is targeting Arizona Cardinals linebackers coach Sam Siefkes to become the team’s new defensive coordinator, a move that could be finalized in the near future.
In pursuing Siefkes, Hokies head coach Brent Pry is venturing outside the typical college hiring pipeline to infuse his staff with fresh ideas from the professional ranks. The appeal of Siefkes stems largely from his exposure to the Cardinals’ innovative defensive system under coordinator Nick Rallis, widely regarded as one of the most progressive minds in the NFL.
Importing NFL Innovation to Blacksburg
Siefkes has spent the past two seasons coaching linebackers in Arizona, where the Cardinals have built a formidable defense predicated on versatility, disguise, and unorthodox pressure packages. In 2021, the unit ranked in the top 10 league-wide in both yards allowed per play and per rush, a testament to their ability to flummox opposing offenses with multiplicity.
For a Virginia Tech program seeking to reestablish its “Lunch Pail” defensive identity, Siefkes represents an opportunity to import cutting-edge NFL principles. His experience in the Cardinals’ scheme, which features a heavy dose of simulated pressures, pattern-matching coverages, and “creeper” blitzes, could provide the Hokies with a tactical advantage in the ACC.
Bridging the NFL and College Spheres
While Siefkes’ NFL background was central to his appeal, he also brings valuable experience from the college ranks. Prior to his stint with the Cardinals, he made stops with the Minnesota Vikings, Wofford Terriers, and UW-Platteville Pioneers, serving as a defensive coordinator at the latter two programs.
“His diversity of experience, blending NFL innovation with college sensibilities, makes him an ideal candidate to revitalize our defense,” a Virginia Tech source said of Siefkes’ expected hire.
During his time at Wofford, Siefkes engineered a top-20 FCS defense that headlined the Southern Conference in 2019. At Division III UW-Platteville, his unit allowed a mere 18.9 points per game in 2017. Those results, coupled with his tutelage under luminaries like Rallis and Dave Aranda, position Siefkes for success in Blacksburg.
A New Era for the Hokies Defense
If the hire is finalized as expected, Siefkes will succeed Chris Marve as Virginia Tech’s defensive coordinator. Last season, Marve’s unit finished 57th nationally in total defense, a respectable showing but one that the Hokies brass believe can be upgraded with a schematic overhaul.
- Disguise and deception: Look for more emphasis on simulated pressures and post-snap rotations to keep offenses guessing
- Match-up specific game plans: Siefkes’ NFL background could yield more adaptable schemes tailored to each opponent
- Modernizing the “Lunch Pail”: Maintain the program’s blue-collar ethos while injecting new ideas that maximize talent
The impending arrival of Sam Siefkes portends a new era for Virginia Tech’s defense, one fueled by innovative concepts imported from the NFL’s cutting edge. As the Hokies prepare to embark on the 2025 season, all eyes will be on Blacksburg to see how this infusion of professional pedigree translates to the ACC gridiron.
