After seven weeks, Virginia Tech football coach Brent Pry has selected a new defensive coordinator to succeed Chris Marve. The search appeared to be a lengthy one, likely filled with more twists and turns than we may ever fully realize.
Ultimately, Pry selected Arizona Cardinals linebackers coach Sam Siefkes as Virginia Tech’s new defensive coordinator. While he does have experience in the role, it comes from the FCS level. Siefkes brings five years of NFL coaching experience with the Cardinals and Vikings and now faces the significant challenge of strengthening the Hokies’ defense in Blacksburg. Here are three key takeaways from Pry’s decision to hire him.
1. Patience is needed
Only time will tell how this hiring will pan out, but one thing is certain—Pry needs this decision to be a success as he enters what feels like a pivotal fourth season.
Siefkes arrives with more experience in calling a defense than Marve had when he was hired, and that could ultimately make a difference. However, he faces the tough challenge of revitalizing a defense that had plenty of talent but struggled significantly in late-game situations. Patience will be key, and the results will have to play out over the course of the season.
2. Siefkes was likely not the first choice
Seven weeks? It took that long to land Siefkes, which suggests he wasn’t Virginia Tech’s first choice. In fact, it’s reasonable to assume the job was offered to one or more candidates who ultimately turned it down.
Virginia Tech is a storied program, and Pry likely had a long list of interested candidates. However, this hire feels like a significant gamble. Promoting Shawn Quinn—who served as interim DC in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl loss to Minnesota—might have been a simpler move. Whatever the reasoning, the fact that it took seven weeks to settle on Siefkes certainly raises some eyebrows.
3. Press release from Virginia Tech was interesting
When Virginia Tech made the hiring official, the press release stood out—perhaps for the wrong reasons. It included endorsements from Minnesota Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell, former Vikings coach Mike Zimmer, and Arizona Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon, all of whom had worked with Siefkes. While it’s not unusual to include such quotes, the extent of the praise felt like a hard sell to the fanbase.
Pry, for his part, emphasized that the search was “lengthy and thorough.” That may very well be true, and perhaps he found the right fit. But taking seven weeks to hire a defensive coordinator does raise questions—not just about the process itself but also about how the program is perceived externally.
