Karl Subban

In his thirty years of coaching, teaching, parenting, and leading, Karl Subban has learned how to inspire people. “Your greatest gift is your potential,” he often says, “and your greatest gift to the world is the development of that potential.” Hailing from the Caribbean, where he never played hockey, Karl has nonetheless raised three NHL players, including the legendary defenceman P.K. Subban—one of the league’s brightest stars and an Olympic Gold Medal winner.

His memoir, How We Did It: The Subban Plan for Success in Hockey, School, and Life became an immediate national bestseller. It’s a personal story of a unique journey—a saga that begins in Karl’s original home of Jamaica, explores his achievements as a father and educator in Canada, and stands as a must-read account of one of hockey’s most fascinating families. It’s his proven approach to resilience, perseverance, and goal-setting—and a how-to guide for bringing the best out of everyone. He is also the author of The Hockey Skates, a heartwarming picture book that teaches children the importance of resilience and perseverance.

As parents, Karl and his wife, Maria, have raised five accomplished children. Their two oldest daughters are teachers, one a record-setting university basketball star and the other an acclaimed visual artist. Each of their three sons, P.K., Malcolm and Jordan, have been drafted and signed by NHL teams.  In 2018, Karl was recognized as a Canadian Men’s Health Foundation Champion for taking a stand for men’s health and supporting CMHF’s mission to inspire men to make small changes and live healthier lives.

The Million Dollar Question Karl is often asked about his family is, “How did you do it?” A natural storyteller, Karl mixes personal stories with lessons he learned as a coach and principal—lessons about motivation, grit, and accomplishment—that resonate with audiences from the boardroom to the classroom.