Arizona State Hockey Coach Placed on Leave After Player Suffers Catastrophic Heat Stroke During Unsanctioned Workout

Arizona State University has placed men’s hockey head coach Greg Powers on paid administrative leave following allegations that he and his staff mishandled a preseason conditioning session that left defenseman Matthew Mayich with permanent brain damage. The decision comes as seven players formally requested the removal of the entire coaching staff, citing fears of retaliation and accusing leadership of minimizing a medical emergency that occurred during an unapproved workout led by an outside contractor.

Mayich, 21, suffered exertional heat stroke on August 20 during a high-intensity training session directed by Tim Ziesel, a former Green Beret who had no contractual relationship with the university. He remains hospitalized with severe neurological impairment and is not expected to recover, according to family attorney Robert Carey. Medical experts distinguish exertional heat stroke from common heat exhaustion; it is a life-threatening condition characterized by central nervous system dysfunction and core body temperatures exceeding 104°F, requiring immediate aggressive cooling to prevent irreversible organ failure.

The players’ anonymous letter, submitted through their attorney Timothy J. Casey, alleges that Powers downplayed Mayich’s collapse at the scene, telling athletes it was “just a little heat stroke” and that he had “seen this a million times.” After Mayich was transported by ambulance, the letter states Powers framed the incident as evidence of the team’s dedication, suggesting the workout brought them closer to a Frozen Four appearance. Players were also allegedly instructed to leave the hospital to avoid drawing attention to the situation.

Athletic Director Graham Rossini stated the administrative leave was necessary to provide stability for the program. Assistant coach Mike Corbett will serve as interim head coach for the season opener against Lindenwood, with a permanent interim appointment expected shortly. However, the Mayich family argues the measure is insufficient because associate coach Alex Hicks, described as Powers’ close friend and longtime colleague, remains on staff. Carey contends that retaining coaches present during the incident creates an environment where whistleblowers remain vulnerable, noting that playing time, scholarship status, and roster decisions are still controlled by individuals implicated in the players’ complaint.

An internal university review identified significant procedural failures, including the coaching staff’s failure to submit a required training plan for approval prior to the August 20 session. The use of Ziesel without a formal contract bypassed standard vetting protocols designed to ensure external trainers meet NCAA safety standards and institutional liability requirements. This lack of oversight meant the workout’s intensity, hydration protocols, and medical supervision plans were never evaluated by athletic department compliance or sports medicine personnel.

The National Collegiate Hockey Conference endorsed Arizona State’s decision, emphasizing that student-athlete welfare supersedes competitive interests. Concurrently, the Arizona State Police Department is conducting a criminal investigation into the incident, with findings to be forwarded to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office for independent legal review. Both the Mayich family and the players have called for a fully independent external investigation, arguing that internal processes cannot adequately address potential systemic negligence or conflicts of interest.

Powers, who played for Arizona State in the 1990s and has served as head coach since 2010, declined to answer questions about Mayich’s condition during a news conference last week and could not be reached for comment following the administrative leave announcement. The university has not specified whether Corbett or other remaining assistants were present during the August 20 workout or why only Powers was placed on leave.