Yogi Roth
Yogi Roth is a multifaceted media personality, NYT bestselling author, Emmy Award-winning filmmaker, host, and world traveler. He authentically brings over 20 years of experience in sports analysis, coaching, filmmaking, and writing to the keynote stage.
Yogi Roth has been driven by the power of sports and story for over 20 years, as an on-air college football analyst, Elite 11 coach, Emmy Award-winning filmmaker, and New York Times and Amazon best-selling author. A former Pitt wide receiver and USC coach, he is also a motivational speaker, tv and event host, and world traveler. To talk football, family, and storytelling, connect with him.
Yogi began his storytelling career after coaching football at USC, co-authoring the New York Times best-seller Win Forever with Pete Carroll, as well as his second book From PA to LA. In 2022 Yogi released 5-Star QB, which was an Amazon best-selling book as well as his first children’s book titled Finding Free Fun. Alongside publisher Vooks, Finding Free Fun is also an animated film. As a filmmaker, he recently Executive Produced and Hosted All American Stories on the CW and has produced or directed multiple documentaries with the Pac-12 Networks, NFL Films, Bleacher Report and ESPN, including the Emmy-nominated film Keep Climbing: 2013 Elite 11, and the award-winning film Life In A Walk. Recently, he was an executive producer on the educational documentary series ProtectHer, as well as directed and wrote the short films What Does It Mean to be Human?, What Does It Mean to Love? and What Does It Mean to Connect?. He also created and hosted the digital documentary series, We All Speak Ball, which chronicled American football in Israel in 2017. During his time at the Pac-12 Networks, Yogi produced and narrated the award-winning documentary series, The Drive. In 2020, he won a Los Angeles Emmy on behalf of the Pac-12 Networks for the feature titled Fight On: A Jackson Family. His most recent film, The Cape, will release in 2023.
As a media personality, Yogi has been a host/college football analyst for ESPN, Fox and the Pac-12 Network, as well as a correspondent for Entertainment Tonight on CBS and beach volleyball on TBS for the last decade. In 2017, he co-hosted the podcast Season of Sam with USC and NFL quarterback Sam Darnold. In 2018, Yogi signed a deal with Sirius XM radio, in addition to his podcast The It Factory, where he interviewed Pac-12 football players, alums and esteemed guests to learn more about their journey toward success. He has also hosted the Elite 11 since 2009 on ESPN, Bleacher Report, NFL Network, and YouTube. In 2022, Yogi also hosted the unscripted series, Fixing Us, on NBC.
Yogi has been speaking for years and gave an emotional TEDx Talk at the TEDx Austin Women’s Conference. Since then, he has spoken around the globe alongside brands such as Nike, World Surf League, JCPenney, Dignity Health, PMK*BNC, IMG College, USC, UW, Oregon, Gonzaga and Capital One. He has also spoken at the SXSW Festival addressing masculinity in sports. He joined the Pac-12 Conference task force, formed to protect student athletes and address systemic issues threatening college athletics. During the 2020 pandemic shortened season, Yogi transitioned to an amplified role within the Pac-12 conference as a lead in football communications and strategy.
A graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, Yogi walked-on to the football team and earned a full athletic scholarship. He transitioned to coaching and joined the USC Football staff while earning magna cum laude with a master’s degree in Communications Management at the Annenberg School for Communications and Journalism. This degree equipped him as a teacher, confidant, mentor, and coach as he taught a class titled Storytelling: The Internship to Pac-12 student-athletes. With the farewell of the Pac-12 in 2024, Yogi has transitioned to a new arena with the Big Ten Network.
Yogi is the co-founder of Win Forever, LLC with Pete Carroll, a company dedicated to coaching coaches on the development of a winning philosophy.
As an actor, Yogi has appeared on Comedy Central, multiple national commercials and in various independent films.
An explorer of over 30 countries Yogi enjoys unplanned adventures, surfing, and a local latte.
Roth resides in Venice Beach, CA with his wife Amy, two sons, and their small dog.
CHASE WHAT MATTERS™
As a storyteller, Yogi Roth understands it’s clear that in any great story the main character eventually loses their way. Think about the show you love right now or the latest movie you watched. There is a point in the story where the character feels lost and the same can happen with us. Some of us may even be lost right now. You may not be living a great or IDEAL story with your life at this moment and that’s OK. It’s normal.
In his career, Yogi has traveled to over 30 countries in pursuit of great stories from elite performers to high level leaders. He’s broadcasted major college football for 17 years seeking and uncovering the humanity within the sport and in every conversation, from East Africa to Easter Island to Pullman, WA it came down to whether or not the leaders, the coaches, the people, and the teams were Chasing What Matters.
What does it all come down to? The best leaders, the most competitive and successful cultures, the best in class, build their clarity, confidence, and discipline to consistently CHASE WHAT MATTERS. When your organization is aligned with what matters most, you will experience teamwork, engagement, and collaboration at a winning level. Yogi Roth will reignite your passion and purpose in this transformational keynote.
Attendees will learn:
- ...The important role that clarity in purpose plays. They will leave ready to align their organization's actions with their core values and objectives.
- ...Strategies for building confidence at both individual and organizational levels.
- ...The value of discipline for consistency in achieving desired outcomes.
- ...What it means to Chase What Matters in their personal and professional lives.
Attendees will leave feeling:
- ...A sense of direction and unity among teams.
- ...Inspired and equipped with actionable insights to Chase What Matters.
- ...Transformed and empowered to cultivate a culture of self-belief, resilience, and innovation within their teams.
- ...Enabled to establish clear goals, routines, and accountability measures that drive continuous improvement and team collaboration.
Yogi was great, he was totally awesome. We hear a lot of people speak at this event in different breakout sessions and larger sessions like this. It is jarring how talented of a speaker Yogi is!
Aaron P., Director of Marketing, University of Pittsburgh
Yogi was great! He left the room inspired, ready to tackle the new year and change college athletics!
Nick S., Senior Director, NACDA
Yogi Roth is a force of nature. Every time I sit with him by the end of the conversation I am ready to jump out of my seat and attack life. He is so special I insisted he address my company. I never looked so smart in front of my organization as I did after Yogi's presentation!
Michael Nyman, Chairman & CEO | PMK*BNC
Yogi’s positive energy is evident the second he walks into a room. He fully engages an audience in his stories, in the questions he asks, and in the on-the-spot coaching he provides. He is a key part of one of our ongoing programs, and we get consistently positive feedback every time he works with us. Because he genuinely cares about helping people see their place in the world differently, I look for opportunities to bring him in as a speaker. Yogi is one of the most dynamic people I know.
Jack Skalican | Dignity Health
I've met a lot of interesting folks in 15 years of covering college sports. Yogi Roth is right near the top of that list. He is without a doubt the most optimistic, relentlessly positive person I've ever met. He's got the spirit to try anything and, in an uncanny, um, Yogi Roth-way, he usually makes it happen. He also has been blessed with the capacity to fit so effortlessly into any situation or group. Reading his story provided a great window into how he got to have such a unique view of the world.
Bruce Feldman, Award-Winning College Football Writer/Reporter | Fox Sports
Yogi personifies what it means to live life without limits. As a hopeless optimist, profound documentarian, TV show Host, National Best Selling Author, Professional storytelling adventure-er; he refuses to be defined by any one of the incredible things he’s accomplished. And despite always being the most interesting person in the room, it’s his commitment to inspiring others to achieve their dreams that ironically leaves everyone in the room thinking they are the most interesting person. It’s his humility, his insatiable curiosity about the human experience, his compassion and his enthusiasm for life that always evoke an unforgettable “Yogi Roth” contagiousness. Guys want to be him. Girls want to be with him. He’s the guy that takes your breath away. Every. Single. Time.
Alexis Jones, Author/Activist/Founder | Protecther & I Am That Girl
The only thing I value more than Yogi’s energy and enthusiasm towards football is our friendship. He once asked me, ‘Mark–who are you?’ At first I thought it was rhetorical, but then he demanded an answer! That moment taught me a lot about myself. He was always there for me from red zone blitzes to life advice and for that, I am eternally grateful.
Mark Sanchez | Quarterback
All of Roth’s different projects share one commonality: They’re primarily driven by his passion for storytelling…that originally motivated LIFE IN A WALK.
Erin Rode | Daily Trojan
I’m not afraid to admit it, I cried when I talked to Yogi. I wasn’t really expecting to, but I guess he touched a nerve…It’s a film about fathers and sons, how we connect and how we sometimes don’t…If you haven’t already done so today, take a walk…Connect with loved ones. Call your dad. Seriously, call him.
Ben Tanzer | Men’s Health
Roth decided to turn his footage into a documentary project, aimed at creating a movement that encourages people to find opportunities to ask their loved ones the questions they’ve always wanted the answers to.
Chris Strauss | USA TODAY
Yogi = a rare mix of acute & courageous sojourner + human catalyst + MENSCH!
Kevin Carroll, Author, Speaker And Agent | Social Change
Yogi Roth knows his stuff. The Pac-12 Networks football analyst can break down X’s and O’s with any commentator in the country.
Michael Lev | Arizona Daily Star