Sam Siefkes is in his first season with the Cardinals as linebackers coach after joining the team on 3/1/23. He came to Arizona after spending the last two seasons (2021-22) with the Minnesota Vikings where he was the assistant linebackers coach in 2022 following one season (2021) as a defensive quality control coach.
Last season with the Vikings, LBs Eric Kendricks (137) and Jordan Hicks (128) had a combined 265 tackles and 4.0 sacks, 10 tackles for loss, six QB hits, an INT, 16 passes defensed, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Both players ranked in the top-20 in the league last season in tackles while Hicks was 2nd among NFL linebackers with 10 passes defensed. Kendricks led Minnesota in tackles for the 7th time and his 280 total tackles in two seasons (2021-22) working with Siefkes were the ninth-best total in the NFL during that span.
In 2021, Siefkes helped oversee a linebacker unit led by Kendricks, who finished the season with career-highs in tackles (143) and sacks (5.0) while also adding two INTs, four passes defensed, eight tackles for loss, five QB hits and a fumble recovery. He also mentored LB Nick Vigil, who started 12 games and finished the season with 85 tackles and a pick-six.
Prior to his time in Minnesota, Siefkes was the defensive coordinator/inside linebackers coach at Wofford College (2018-20). His final season at Wofford in 2020 was postponed due to COVID-19. In 2019, he led the nation's 20th ranked defense that helped guide the program to its 3rd straight Southern Conference Championship and 4th straight appearance in the FCS Playoffs. The defense ranked 1st in the conference in total defense and rushing defense and 2nd in scoring defense.
In his first season at Wofford in 2018, the Terriers led the conference in total defense, scoring defense, passing defense, and rushing defense. Nationally, they ranked 8th in scoring defense and 12th in total defense. Wofford had a 9-4 overall record, won the Southern Conference Championship and advanced to the second round of the FCS Playoffs.
Siefkes spent two seasons (2016-17) as the defensive coordinator/inside linebackers coach at UW-Platteville. His defense allowed just 18.9 points per game in 2017 and had three shutouts. The Pioneers finished the 2016 season with an 8-3 record and advanced to the playoffs. In 2015, Siefkes worked as a defensive graduate assistant at the University of Wisconsin, helping with the defensive line. With the Badgers, he coached alongside former defensive coordinator and current Baylor head coach Dave Aranda. Wisconsin led the nation in scoring defense (13.7 ppg) and ranked 2nd nationally in total defense (268.5 ypg) that season. They defeated USC in the Holiday Bowl, the Badgers second consecutive bowl game victory.
He was a quality control coach at Florida International in 2014 and before that coached at his alma mater, Wisconsin-La Crosse (2012-13) as a student assistant. While at Wisconsin-La Crosse he helped with defensive backs, linebackers and specialists.
Siefkes (SEEF-kiss) played defensive back for one season (2011) at Wisconsin-La Crosse before injuries ended his playing career. He then worked (2012-13) as a student assistant with the Eagles. Siefkes also served as a strength and conditioning intern at the Air Force Academy in the summer of 2013.
He received 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. Siefkes and his wife, Carrissa, were married in July, 2020.
