ASU Hockey Coach Placed on Leave Following Player’s Collapse

Arizona State University (ASU) has placed its head hockey coach, Greg Powers, on paid administrative leave after a player collapsed during a workout last month and remains in the hospital. The university announced that assistant coach Mike Corbett will assume interim duties while an official replacement is identified.

Matthew Mayich, a 21-year-old sophomore from Ontario, Canada, collapsed on Aug. 20. According to Robert Carey, an attorney representing the Mayich family, recovery is “unlikely,” as reported by CBS affiliate KPHO-TV.

An incident report from the school states that Mayich was participating in a “wind-down” exercise involving running with a medicine ball at an outdoor facility when he fell. The report noted that Mayich struggled while running, stumbled, dropped the ball, and collapsed. Despite attempts by teammates and coaches to help him resume activity, he fell to his knees. Players and coaches instructed him to remain lying down while an athletic trainer applied iced towels and cold water to cool him. Although Mayich was initially responsive, his condition worsened.

Temperature records show conflicting data regarding the day’s heat. The National Weather Service reported temperatures exceeding 100 degrees, while ASU stated the workout occurred when temperatures ranged between 86 and 89 degrees.

Mayich’s parents, John and Christina, have criticized the university’s response, arguing that removing only Powers is insufficient. In a statement released Wednesday, they called for the removal of other staff involved, noting that an individual described as Powers’ friend of ten years remains in charge of the locker room. They added that if ASU refuses to remove that individual, the interim head coach should have the authority to place anyone posing a risk of retaliation on leave.

Seven other players have also challenged the university’s account of the incident. In a letter sent Tuesday to ASU’s president, the athletes—who requested anonymity due to fears of retaliation—asserted that the outside consultant leading the workout was not approved per school policy. They claimed the session lasted longer than reported, lacked adequate water breaks, and continued despite visible signs of distress among participants.

The students specifically alleged that Mayich was denied water breaks and exhibited distress before the final exercise. They further claimed that required emergency equipment, such as cold-water immersion tubs, was unavailable. Instead, they described cooling efforts as inadequate, citing a small cooler with Powerade-soaked towels, squirt bottles that produced streams rather than mists, and later, a garden hose with warm water.

The workout was led by Tim Ziesel, whom the school described as a guest speaker on leadership and teamwork for the 2025-26 season. The students characterized Ziesel’s session as “grueling” and “military-style.” However, Ziesel’s attorney pushed back against these descriptions, stating that Ziesel is a Navy veteran and former head varsity coach with 28 years of experience. The attorney asserted that the term “military-style workout” was fabricated and that the calisthenics performed would be considered easy by high school standards, urging focus on the Mayich family instead.

The players’ letter requested that all staff responsible for the workout be placed on leave pending an independent investigation. Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell confirmed Tuesday that the ASU Police Department is investigating the incident, with her office planning to review the matter at the highest level once the probe concludes.