BLACKSBURG, Va. — Virginia Tech announced the appointment of Sam Siefkes as its new defensive coordinator. He joins the Hokies after spending two seasons as the linebackers coach for the Arizona Cardinals in the NFL.

Prior to his time in Arizona, Siefkes contributed to the Minnesota Vikings for two seasons. He takes over the position previously held by Chris Marve, who was dismissed following a challenging season.

Virginia Tech head coach Brent Pry expressed confidence in Siefkes’s abilities, noting his remarkable capacity to adapt and succeed across different levels of play. “Sam has demonstrated his talent in building top-ranked defenses in college football and has experience working with high-caliber athletes in the NFL. His dedication to teaching is clear, and I’m certain his leadership will make a strong impact on our student-athletes,” Pry stated.

Siefkes’s experience mainly lies in programs at lower levels of competition. He served as the defensive coordinator at Wofford, a Football Championship Subdivision program, from 2018 to 2020 after holding the same position at Wisconsin-Platteville, a Division III institution. His journey led him from Wofford to the Vikings, where he began as a defensive quality control coach in 2021, and advanced to assistant linebackers coach a year later.

His past roles also include a stint as a quality control coach at Florida International in 2014 and a student assistant position at Wisconsin-La Crosse during the 2012-2013 seasons.

In a recent statement, Siefkes conveyed his enthusiasm about joining Virginia Tech. “This program has a rich history of defensive excellence, and I am eager to collaborate with Coach Pry and our skilled student-athletes to uphold this legacy. I aspire to develop a defense that reflects the strong work ethic of the past. The commitment, energy, and passion here are unparalleled, and I’m ready to dive into the work,” he said.

Virginia Tech decided to part ways with Marve after concluding the regular season with a 6-6 record, culminating in a 24-10 defeat to Minnesota in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl. Marve had been a part of the Hokies’ coaching staff for three seasons.