Nicholas G. Toth was best known to American fencers as Nick Toth.  He coached the U.S. Air Force Academy fencers from 1961 until his retirement in 1981. In 1977, he was selected for the Citizens Savings Fencing Hall of Fame (the precursor to the current USFA Hall of Fame). The U.S. Air Force Academy hosts the annual Nick Toth Memorial Fencing tournament in his memory. Born in Hungary, Toth had an illustrious career after his graduation from the Central Sports Institute in Budapest. As a competitor, he won the World International Masters Championship in saber in Innsbruck, Austria in 1948. Toth was the head coach of the U.S. Olympic Pentathlon team in 1956 at Melbourne. He was the national coach at the Modern Pentathlon World Championships in 1955, ’57 and ’58. In addition, Toth was selected U.S. national coach for the 1971 World Junior Fencing Championships.

Air Force fencers were undefeated in six of Toth’s 21 seasons with the Falcons and won 15 Western Intercollegiate Conference championships.  Eleven of his cadets earned All-American honors, including John Swanson who was named three times in saber. His academy team finished third at the 1963 NCAA Championship. Another of his fencers, Wendell Kubik, returned to the Academy as head coach from 1985–91 and was later elected President of the US Fencing Coaches Association 2002-04.