When he left his home of Martin, Slovakia, at age 18, Filip Subrt ubrt brought a hockey stick, a dream of earning a scholarship, and a willingness to take a risk.
Today, Subrt serves as general manager of his hometown soccer club, MSK Fomat Martin, an opportunity he never could have imagined when his journey began.
He started playing hockey at age 6, and eventually came to the United States to pursue junior hockey, hoping the sport would open doors to higher education. After one year at a university in St. Louis, Subrt transferred to RCU to play hockey and major in sport management.
He said he quickly found mentors who would shape both his academic and personal growth. “Professor [Dave] Hutson had a great impact on my experience. The way he communicated and was able to talk to me about various things really stood out,” he said. He also credits Garth Pleasant, a retired professor, as influencing him and making his experience special.
After Subrt completed his bachelor’s, he took a year off before enrolling in RCU’s Sports Leadership master’s program, from which he graduated in 2024.
“Moving to the United States at 18 and being there for eight years to earn my master’s degree, play hockey, and experience life in America on my own, that’s something I’m very proud of,” he said.
Though he did not come from a faith background, attending a Christian university was another meaningful part of his growth.
“I was worried about going to a Christian college because it wasn’t something I was raised in. But seeing the Christian perspective was something great to experience and learn about,” he said.
Subrt formed friendships that continue today through video calls and regular life updates. One family, in particular, opened their home to him when campus was closed. His best friend and former teammate, Anthony Carlier Jr., along with his parents, Phyllis and Marcel, welcomed him any day of the week. “They invited me, a foreigner, over for Thanksgiving and breaks. There were always people there to help me.”
Now back in Slovakia, he leads MSK Fomat Martin, a top-league soccer club and academy. For someone who grew up immersed in hockey, stepping into soccer management was once unthinkable. “I would have never imagined this path. In Slovakia, hockey and soccer clash with each other. But once I got my degree and came back, I realized it’s not about the sport itself — it’s about management and how the organization works.”
Today, he said his greatest joy is found off the field. He and his family live in his hometown of Martin, where he raises his 2-year-old son, Noel. “Being a father has been a huge addition to my life,” he said.
From a young hockey player in central Slovakia to an international student, graduate and sports executive, Subrt’s journey reflects the power of stepping into the unknown, and the lasting impact of a community that supported him along the way.
Read the full issue of the North Star, RCU’s annual magazine for alumni & friends, here.
article written by Emily Carroll
