Coach Derek Roth Head Coach & Founder
Head Coach of the Penn State University Boxing Club since 2019 and the 2023 NCBA Coach of the Year. Coach Roth founded Legacy Boxing & Combat Sports Academy to bring that same standard of coaching to anyone in State College who wants to learn to fight properly.
Whether you have competed before or you have never thrown a punch, you train under the same coach and the same curriculum. Your first class is free.
Coach Roth accepting the 2023 NCBA Coach of the Year award.
Background
Coach Derek Roth has spent more than 30 years in martial arts and more than 25 of them in boxing. He has competed in MMA, kickboxing, and Muay Thai, has trained Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu since 2009, and continues to study Kosen Judo, the branch of judo that treats a takedown and the ground fight that follows as one unbroken sequence.
That range is the reason Legacy teaches boxing and MMA as one connected system rather than as separate products. Coach Roth has trained each of these disciplines seriously enough to know where they overlap and where they conflict, and the curriculum is built on that understanding.
He is a former Pennsylvania Golden Gloves boxer, a USA Boxing certified coach, and a USA Judo certified instructor holding a brown belt. He also holds instruction certifications in kickboxing and Muay Thai and in submission grappling, plus personal training and nutritional coaching.
Credentials at a Glance
- 2023 NCBA Coach of the Year
- Head Coach, Penn State University Boxing Club, since 2019
- USA Boxing certified coach
- USA Judo certified instructor, brown belt
- 30+ years of martial arts experience
- 25+ years of boxing experience
- Competition experience in MMA, kickboxing, and Muay Thai
- Former Pennsylvania Golden Gloves boxer
- Training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu since 2009
Also Certified In
- Submission grappling instruction
- Kickboxing and Muay Thai instruction
- Personal training
- Nutritional coaching
Head Coach of Penn State Boxing
Coach Roth has led the Penn State University Boxing Club since 2019. The club is currently the top civilian boxing program in the United States, and the 2023 NCBA Coach of the Year award came out of that work.
Legacy is the club's approved practice facility, which means Penn State students train here alongside club members under the same coach who runs the team. You do not have to be a student or a competitor to get that coaching. It is the same room and the same instruction.
What Coach Roth Teaches
Every discipline below is taught at Legacy by Coach Roth himself, in group classes or private sessions. No experience is assumed in any of them.
Boxing
Footwork, head movement, punching mechanics, and defensive structure, taught the same way whether you want to compete or just want to learn properly. This is the discipline Legacy is built on.
MMA
Striking and grappling trained as one system rather than as two hobbies. Coach Roth has competed in MMA himself, and the program reflects what actually holds up under pressure.
Muay Thai & Kickboxing
Punches, kicks, knees, elbows, and clinch work. Coach Roth has competed in both kickboxing and Muay Thai, and teaches the striking with a real fighting context rather than as cardio.
Kosen Judo
Takedowns, pins, chokes, and joint locks trained as one continuous sequence. Coach Roth is a USA Judo certified instructor and holds a brown belt.
Grappling Background
Coach Roth has trained Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu since 2009. Legacy is not a BJJ academy, and we will say so plainly, but that background shapes how the ground game is taught here.
Private Coaching
One-on-one sessions at $70 per hour, or $250 for a 5-pack. Built around whatever you are working on, in any of the disciplines above.
How He Coaches
Coach Roth teaches from fundamentals up, every time. Most people who walk into Legacy have never trained before, and the curriculum is built for that. Technique comes first, conditioning follows from it, and nothing gets skipped because a class is in a hurry.
Sparring is never required. It is introduced only when you are ready for it and only if you want it. Plenty of Legacy members train for years, get genuinely good, and never spar at all.
The gym is ego-free by design. Coaching a collegiate team and coaching a beginner turn out to demand the same thing, which is paying attention to the person in front of you.
What Students Say
"Coach Derek Roth has a rare gift for breaking down high-level concepts into real-world skills. He made me feel like a fighter from day one."
"Coach Roth's clear expertise and experience can be intimidating at first, but he's one of the most kindhearted, patient, and supportive coaches I've ever had."
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Coach Roth teach beginners?
Yes. Most people who walk into Legacy have never thrown a punch. Coach Roth teaches every class from fundamentals up, and the same coaching that prepares collegiate competitors is what a first-timer gets on day one. Your first class is free.
Can I train one-on-one with Coach Roth?
Yes. Private sessions are $70 per hour, with a 5-pack available for $250. Private training covers boxing, MMA, Muay Thai, Kosen Judo, or a mix, built around your goals and experience level. See private training details.
What is the NCBA Coach of the Year award?
The National Collegiate Boxing Association is the governing body for collegiate boxing in the United States. Coach Roth was named its Coach of the Year in 2023 for his work with the Penn State University Boxing Club, which he has led since 2019.
Do I have to spar to train with Coach Roth?
No. Sparring is never required at Legacy. It is introduced only when you are fully prepared and only if you want it, with safety and readiness as the priority. Plenty of members train for years and never spar.
What martial arts does Coach Roth have experience in?
Coach Roth has 30+ years of martial arts experience and 25+ years in boxing. He has competed in MMA, kickboxing, and Muay Thai, has trained Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu since 2009, and continues to study Kosen Judo. He is a USA Boxing certified coach and a USA Judo certified instructor holding a brown belt.
Train With Coach Roth
Whether you are chasing a competition or just want to learn to box properly, the first class is free and there is no commitment. Come see the gym and meet the coach.