Sam Siefkes

Sam Siefkes entered his first season as Defensive Coordinator at Virginia Tech in 2025. He brings 14 years of coaching experience across collegiate and NFL levels. Prior to Tech, he served as the linebackers coach for the Arizona Cardinals in 2023–24 and had held positions with the Minnesota Vikings (assistant linebackers, defensive quality control) in earlier seasons. Before his NFL tenure, Siefkes had been a defensive coordinator at Wofford (2018–2020) and Wisconsin-Platteville (2016–2017). At Wofford, his defenses were often top in the Southern Conference in categories such as total defense and rushing defense. He began his coaching path as a graduate assistant and quality control coach at Wisconsin and Florida International and also interned in strength and conditioning at Air Force. Siefkes played as a defensive back at Wisconsin-La Crosse in 2011 before injuries led him into coaching. He holds a bachelor’s degree in exercise and sports science from Wisconsin–La Crosse and a master’s in educational leadership and policy analysis from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.