Last Updated on November 12, 2026 by Janet Asprin
Spencer Carbery is a Canadian professional ice hockey coach and former player who serves as the head coach of the Washington Capitals in the National Hockey League (NHL). Born on November 9, 1981, in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, Carbery has developed a reputation for his leadership, communication skills, and ability to develop young hockey players.
Beyond his coaching career, Carbery is a devoted husband and father. He is married to Casey Carbery (née DeGreef), whom he met while attending St. Norbert College in Wisconsin. The couple has two children, a son named Hudson Carbery and a daughter named Vivian Carbery.
His parents are Bryan Carbery and Kate Carbery. His extended family also includes his stepmother, Bonnie, and stepfather, Stephen. His family played an important role in supporting his journey from minor-league hockey to becoming an award-winning NHL head coach.
Spencer Carbery’s Wife: Who Is He Married To?
Spencer Carbery is married to Casey Carbery, formerly Casey DeGreef.
Casey is a St. Norbert College graduate who met Spencer while they were both students at the institution in De Pere, Wisconsin.
In a feature published by St. Norbert College, Spencer recalled meeting Casey while dining on campus.
He explained that he immediately felt there was something special about her, and their relationship developed from that first meeting.
The couple remained together as Spencer completed college and pursued a professional ice hockey career.
At the time, Casey was not particularly interested in hockey.
Spencer recalled that the St. Norbert College games she attended were probably among the first ice hockey games she had ever watched.
However, she gradually developed an appreciation for the sport as Spencer’s career progressed.
Their relationship continued through several important changes, including his transition from playing professional hockey to becoming a coach.
When Did Spencer Carbery Get Married?
Spencer Carbery and Casey DeGreef married before establishing their family in South Carolina.
Published biographical accounts indicate that the couple married in 2009, although their precise wedding date and ceremony details have not been independently established through official NHL reporting.
The couple has remained together through numerous professional and personal milestones, including coaching positions in South Carolina, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Ontario, and Washington, D.C.
In interviews, Spencer has repeatedly credited Casey with providing the support that made his coaching career possible.
What Does Spencer Carbery’s Wife Do?
Casey Carbery previously worked in banking.
Her professional background was documented in a St. Norbert College feature about Spencer’s appointment as Washington Capitals head coach.
As Spencer’s coaching career progressed, the couple faced increasingly difficult decisions about balancing professional opportunities with their children’s needs.
Casey eventually resigned from her banking position to spend more time caring for their two children and supporting the family’s frequent relocations.
The decision allowed Spencer to continue pursuing opportunities in professional hockey.
In the college interview, Casey explained that the couple had considered remaining in South Carolina, where Spencer had achieved considerable success with the Stingrays.
However, they ultimately decided to continue pursuing his ambition of reaching the NHL.
Her support became especially important because hockey coaching often involves demanding schedules, extended travel, and unpredictable employment opportunities.
Spencer has acknowledged that Casey manages many of the responsibilities associated with family life while he focuses on coaching.
Spencer Carbery’s Children: How Many Kids Does He Have?
Spencer Carbery and his wife Casey have two children: a son named Hudson Carbery and a daughter named Vivian Carbery.
Their names are confirmed in the Washington Capitals’ official coaching biography and multiple NHL reports.
Both children were born during the period when Spencer lived and worked in South Carolina.
Hudson Carbery – Spencer Carbery’s Son
Hudson Carbery is Spencer and Casey’s eldest child.
Hudson was born around 2012 while his father was coaching the South Carolina Stingrays.
He grew up accompanying his family through several moves associated with Spencer’s coaching career.
During his childhood, the family lived in South Carolina, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Canada before returning to the Washington area.
When Spencer was introduced as the Washington Capitals’ head coach on June 1, 2023, Hudson attended the news conference alongside his mother and younger sister.
At the time, The Washington Post identified him as 11 years old.
Hudson has also developed an interest in ice hockey.
Following Spencer’s appointment in Washington, NHL.com reported that the family planned to find a suitable youth hockey program for him in the region.
His father’s extensive experience in professional hockey has provided opportunities for Hudson to grow up around the sport.
Nevertheless, Spencer and Casey have generally maintained privacy regarding their son’s education and personal activities.
Vivian Carbery – Spencer Carbery’s Daughter
Vivian Carbery is Spencer and Casey’s younger child.
She was born in February 2014, while the family lived in South Carolina.
Her name appears in official Washington Capitals and Saginaw Spirit biographies.
Some St. Norbert College reporting uses the spelling “Vivienne,” although the Capitals’ official biography identifies her as Vivian.
Like her older brother, Vivian has experienced several family relocations because of her father’s coaching career.
She accompanied the family to Washington when Spencer was introduced as the Capitals’ head coach in June 2023.
The Washington Post described how Carbery held his daughter’s hand while entering Capital One Arena for the announcement.
Vivian sat with her mother and brother as Spencer addressed reporters and discussed his return to the Capitals organization.
She also participated in another important family celebration when Spencer won the Jack Adams Award in June 2025.
Although she occasionally appears at public sporting events, additional information about her personal interests remains private.
How Spencer Carbery Balances Coaching and Fatherhood
Being an NHL head coach requires long working hours, extensive preparation, and frequent travel.
Spencer Carbery has spoken openly about the challenges of balancing those responsibilities with his role as a husband and father.
In an April 2024 interview with The Washington Post, he described an important rule he follows to protect time with his family.
Rather than bringing his laptop home after work, he leaves it at the Capitals’ practice facility.
The decision helps him avoid spending every evening analyzing video footage or reviewing upcoming opponents.
Although he continues thinking about hockey outside working hours, he makes a deliberate effort to be present with Casey, Hudson, and Vivian.
He recognizes that family responsibilities require the same commitment and attention that he gives his coaching career.
His approach reflects the importance he places on maintaining a healthy relationship with his wife and children.
Spencer Carbery’s Parents: Meet Bryan and Kate Carbery
Spencer Carbery’s parents are Bryan Carbery and Kate Carbery.
Their identities were confirmed in official NHL coverage of the 2025 Jack Adams Award presentation.
Both parents have been important figures in his life, supporting his development as a young athlete and celebrating his professional achievements.
Spencer has also maintained relationships with his stepmother, Bonnie, and stepfather, Stephen.
Spencer Carbery’s Father: Bryan Carbery
Bryan Carbery is Spencer Carbery’s father and a former professional golfer and golf instructor.
Bryan grew up in Victoria, British Columbia, and developed a passion for competitive golf.
He pursued professional golf during his younger years, including competing on winter golf circuits in the United States.
In an August 2025 interview with the Virginia State Golf Association, Spencer explained that his father had traveled from British Columbia to Florida to compete professionally.
Bryan initially hoped to establish himself as a touring professional.
However, after experiencing the financial and competitive challenges of professional golf, he decided to return to Victoria and become a teaching professional.
He subsequently built a career helping other golfers improve their skills.
Bryan Carbery’s Career as a Golf Coach
Bryan Carbery became an established golf instructor in British Columbia.
He was involved in developing the University of Victoria’s golf program and served as a longtime coach.
According to The Washington Post, Bryan’s experience in competitive athletics and coaching helped shape Spencer’s understanding of leadership.
In an August 2025 interview, Spencer recalled growing up around golf courses and regularly watching his father teach students.
He remembered Bryan’s impressive playing ability, including holding a course record with a round of 63.
Bryan also helped establish a driving range with former NHL players Russ and Geoff Courtnall.
Spencer recalled attending its opening and watching the former hockey players hit golf balls using hockey sticks.
These experiences helped expose him to both competitive golf and professional hockey at an early age.
How Bryan Carbery Influenced Spencer’s Coaching Philosophy
Although Spencer ultimately pursued hockey rather than professional golf, Bryan’s teaching methods influenced his approach to coaching.
In a May 2025 interview with The Washington Post, Carbery explained that his father often used simple, specific instructions when helping him improve his golf swing.
Rather than overwhelming him with complicated information, Bryan identified particular areas where he could make improvements.
Spencer later incorporated a similar philosophy into his own hockey coaching.
He prefers helping players identify specific skills they can improve instead of asking them to change everything about their game.
His father’s example also helped him understand the importance of patience, clear communication, and individual development.
These qualities eventually became central to his success with the Washington Capitals.
Bryan Carbery Supported Spencer’s Hockey Career
Beyond golf, Bryan supported his son’s interest in ice hockey.
During Spencer’s teenage years in Victoria, Bryan regularly accompanied him to early-morning hockey practices.
In a June 2023 Washington Post feature, Bryan recalled that his son sometimes woke up around 4:30 a.m. to attend training sessions.
He would drive Spencer to the rink, watch practice from the stands, and occasionally buy him orange juice afterward.
Those experiences became treasured father-son memories.
Bryan also encouraged Spencer when he encountered setbacks during junior and professional hockey.
When Washington offered Spencer its head coaching position in May 2023, he contacted his father, who was traveling in Munich, Germany.
Bryan was extremely proud that his son had finally reached the NHL as a head coach.
Spencer Carbery’s Mother: Kate Carbery
Kate Carbery is Spencer Carbery’s mother.
Her name was confirmed by NHL.com following the presentation of the Jack Adams Award in June 2025.
Kate has supported Spencer’s hockey career and remained involved in important family celebrations.
In October 2023, The Washington Post reported that Carbery had planned to move to South Carolina following the end of his professional playing career because his mother lived there.
The decision became an important turning point in his life.
Spencer initially intended to leave professional hockey and pursue employment in finance.
However, a coaching opportunity with the South Carolina Stingrays eventually changed his plans.
The opportunity allowed him to remain involved in hockey while living near his mother’s community.
Kate later joined other family members in celebrating Spencer’s major coaching achievements.
Although she has maintained a relatively private public profile, her continued support has been documented during important NHL events.
Spencer Carbery’s Stepparents: Bonnie and Stephen
Spencer Carbery also has two publicly identified stepparents: Bonnie and Stephen.
In June 2025, Russian Machine Never Breaks reported that Spencer’s stepmother, Bonnie, and stepfather, Stephen, attended the surprise celebration honoring his Jack Adams Award victory.
Bonnie – Spencer Carbery’s Stepmother
Bonnie is Spencer Carbery’s stepmother.
She joined his father Bryan and other relatives during the 2025 award presentation.
Although her relationship to Spencer is publicly established, additional details about her occupation and personal background have not been reliably documented.
Stephen – Spencer Carbery’s Stepfather
Stephen is Spencer Carbery’s stepfather.
He participated in the same family celebration alongside Spencer’s mother Kate.
His presence demonstrated the support Spencer receives from members of his extended family.
However, major hockey publications have not provided sufficiently detailed information about Stephen’s professional or personal background.
Spencer Carbery’s Siblings: Does He Have Brothers or Sisters?
There is insufficient reliable public information to confirm the names or number of Spencer Carbery’s siblings.
Major NHL biographies and interviews have discussed his wife, two children, parents, and stepparents but have not clearly identified any brothers or sisters.
Although relatives attended his Jack Adams Award celebration in June 2025, available reporting did not establish the identities and relationships of every family member present.
Therefore, it would be inaccurate to identify specific individuals as his siblings without stronger documentation.
It is also not possible to confirm that Carbery is an only child based solely on the absence of published information.
How Spencer Carbery Met His Wife Casey at St. Norbert College
One of the most important personal experiences of Spencer Carbery’s life occurred while he was studying at St. Norbert College in Wisconsin.
After beginning his collegiate hockey career at the University of Alaska Anchorage, he transferred to St. Norbert College.
He played three seasons with the Green Knights and earned recognition for his competitive playing style.
During this period, he met Casey DeGreef while the two were dining on campus.
Both graduated from St. Norbert College in 2006.
The relationship became an important source of support as Spencer struggled to establish himself as a professional hockey player.
After leaving college, he experienced uncertainty about his future and was released by a professional team.
Casey encouraged him while he searched for another opportunity in hockey.
They eventually relocated to South Carolina, where their lives took an unexpected direction.
How Spencer Carbery’s Family Supported His Coaching Career
Following the end of his college playing career, Spencer joined several minor-league hockey organizations.
He played professionally in the Central Hockey League and ECHL, representing teams including the Tulsa Oilers, Bakersfield Condors, Stockton Thunder, Fresno Falcons, and South Carolina Stingrays.
In 2009, he helped South Carolina win the Kelly Cup championship.
However, by 2010, Carbery was considering retirement from professional hockey.
He and Casey initially planned to settle in South Carolina, where his mother was living.
Spencer considered using his business administration degree to pursue a career in finance.
His plans changed when South Carolina Stingrays coach Jared Bednar encouraged him to remain involved with the team.
Carbery accepted an opportunity that eventually led to a position as an assistant coach.
He and Casey traveled across the country in her Chrysler Sebring to begin the next chapter of their lives.
The decision eventually helped establish Spencer’s coaching career.
Spencer Carbery’s Journey From the ECHL to the NHL
Carbery began his coaching career as an assistant with the South Carolina Stingrays during the 2010-11 season.
He became the team’s head coach in 2011 and remained in the position for five seasons.
During that period, he recorded 207 regular-season victories and helped South Carolina reach the Kelly Cup Final in 2015.
He received the John Brophy Coach of the Year Award for the 2013-14 ECHL season.
In June 2016, Carbery accepted the head coaching position with the Saginaw Spirit in the Ontario Hockey League.
The organization publicly welcomed Casey and their two children, Hudson and Vivian, as part of the announcement.
After one season in Saginaw, he joined the Providence Bruins as an assistant coach.
In 2018, he became head coach of the Hershey Bears, Washington’s American Hockey League affiliate.
He spent three seasons with Hershey and earned the AHL’s Louis A.R. Pieri Memorial Award as the league’s outstanding coach for the 2020-21 season.
In 2021, Carbery joined the Toronto Maple Leafs as an assistant coach.
He spent two seasons in Toronto, gaining experience working with established NHL players.
On May 30, 2023, the Washington Capitals appointed him as the franchise’s 20th head coach.
The achievement fulfilled a long-term ambition that had required years of professional development and family sacrifices.
Spencer Carbery’s Family Celebrates His Washington Capitals Appointment
On June 1, 2023, Spencer Carbery attended his introductory Washington Capitals news conference with Casey, Hudson, and Vivian.
The family arrived together at Capital One Arena, where they were welcomed by reporters and members of the organization.
During the event, Carbery acknowledged that his wife and children had supported him through numerous moves and professional challenges.
He explained that he would not have reached the NHL without their continued support.
The family subsequently began searching for a home and schools in the Washington area.
They also looked for a suitable youth hockey program for Hudson.
In September 2023, Spencer attended a Washington Nationals baseball game with Casey and their children.
The family also met Nationals manager Dave Martinez during the visit.
The occasion demonstrated how they were beginning to establish themselves in the Washington community.
Spencer Carbery’s Family Surprises Him With the Jack Adams Award
On June 7, 2025, Spencer Carbery received one of the greatest honors of his coaching career when he was named the winner of the Jack Adams Award.
The trophy is presented annually to the NHL head coach judged to have made the greatest contribution to his team’s success.
Carbery earned the award after guiding Washington to a 51-22-9 record and first place in the Eastern Conference during the 2024-25 season.
However, he did not know that he was about to receive the trophy.
Instead, he believed he was participating in a routine end-of-season television interview with Capitals broadcaster Joe Beninati.
While the interview was taking place, Casey, Hudson, Vivian, and other relatives waited backstage.
When the interview ended, his family entered the studio with the Jack Adams Award.
Carbery was visibly surprised and emotional.
His father Bryan, mother Kate, stepmother Bonnie, and stepfather Stephen also joined the celebration.
Relatives had traveled from several parts of North America to participate in the surprise.
The moment was particularly meaningful because many of those present had supported Spencer throughout his professional career.
With the achievement, Carbery became the first coach to win coach-of-the-year honors at the ECHL, AHL, and NHL levels.
His family helped transform the award presentation into one of the most memorable personal experiences of his career.
Spencer Carbery’s Contract Extension With Washington
On June 18, 2026, the Washington Capitals announced that Carbery had signed a multiyear contract extension.
The agreement followed three seasons as Washington’s head coach.
During that period, he compiled a 134-83-29 regular-season record and led the Capitals to the Stanley Cup Playoffs twice.
His coaching achievements included the 2025 Jack Adams Award and a second-round playoff appearance.
Following the extension, Carbery expressed happiness about remaining in Washington with his family.
He indicated that Casey and their children were excited about continuing their lives in the Washington area.
The agreement provided professional stability after years in which the family had relocated several times for coaching opportunities.
Frequently Asked Questions About Spencer Carbery’s Family
Who is Spencer Carbery’s wife?
Spencer Carbery is married to Casey Carbery, formerly Casey DeGreef. They met while attending St. Norbert College in Wisconsin.
Who was Spencer Carbery’s girlfriend?
Spencer Carbery’s longtime girlfriend was Casey DeGreef, whom he met during their college years. She later became his wife.
Is Spencer Carbery married?
Yes. Spencer Carbery is married to Casey Carbery. Their marriage is confirmed by the Washington Capitals and St. Norbert College.
What does Spencer Carbery’s wife do?
Casey Carbery previously worked in banking. She later resigned from her position to spend more time supporting their children as Spencer pursued his professional coaching career.
Does Spencer Carbery have children?
Yes. Spencer Carbery and Casey have two children: a son named Hudson and a daughter named Vivian.
Who is Spencer Carbery’s son?
His son is Hudson Carbery, born around 2012. Hudson has shown an interest in hockey and attended his father’s introductory Washington Capitals news conference in 2023.
Who is Spencer Carbery’s daughter?
His daughter is Vivian Carbery, born in February 2014. She joined the family during the Capitals’ introductory press conference and the 2025 Jack Adams Award celebration.
Who are Spencer Carbery’s parents?
His parents are Bryan Carbery and Kate Carbery. Both were publicly identified during the celebration of his 2025 Jack Adams Award victory.
Who is Spencer Carbery’s father?
His father is Bryan Carbery, a former professional golfer and longtime golf instructor who helped establish the University of Victoria golf program.
Who is Spencer Carbery’s mother?
His mother is Kate Carbery. She lived in South Carolina when Spencer was considering the next stage of his career following his retirement from professional hockey.
Does Spencer Carbery have stepparents?
Yes. His stepmother is Bonnie, and his stepfather is Stephen. Both participated in the family celebration honoring his Jack Adams Award in June 2025.
Does Spencer Carbery have siblings?
Reliable public reporting has not established the names or number of Spencer Carbery’s brothers or sisters.
Where did Spencer Carbery meet his wife?
Spencer met Casey DeGreef while they were students at St. Norbert College in De Pere, Wisconsin.
Where did Spencer Carbery grow up?
Spencer Carbery grew up in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, where he developed an interest in hockey and golf.
Did Spencer Carbery play professional hockey?
Yes. Spencer Carbery played professionally in North American minor leagues, including the ECHL and Central Hockey League, before beginning his coaching career.
Which NHL team does Spencer Carbery coach?
Spencer Carbery is the head coach of the Washington Capitals. He was appointed on May 30, 2023, and signed a multiyear extension in June 2026.
Has Spencer Carbery won the Jack Adams Award?
Yes. Spencer Carbery won the 2025 Jack Adams Award as the NHL’s Coach of the Year. His wife, children, parents, and stepparents participated in a surprise presentation.
A dedicated ice hockey journalist, Janet Asprin delivers sharp, detailed coverage of the NHL season. From evaluating trade deadline moves and line combinations to analyzing power plays and postseason standings, Janet brings a fresh, structured perspective to every game. She focuses on translating high-speed rink strategy into compelling stories and actionable insights for hockey fans.
