Arizona State University has appointed former Chief Justice Scott Bales to conduct an independent investigation into the collapse of 21-year-old hockey player Matthew Mayich. mayich remains in a coma on life support following an outdoor conditioning session on August 20 at Sun Angel Stadium. The university has requested that the review be finalized by early December.
Former Chief Justice Scott Bales to probe ASU's August 20 workout
Arizona State University has retained Scott Bales, who served on the Arizona Supreme Court for over a decade and spent five years as Chief Justice, to lead the inquiry. According to the report, Bales is tasked with reviewing facts provided by the university, law enforcement, and legal representatives for both the Mayich family and the ASU hockey team. Joanne Vogel, the vice president of student services at Arizona State University, will serve as the primary liaison to provide Bales with necessary resources.
The scope of the investigation is comprehensive, focusing on the planning and approval of outdoor athletic activities.. Bales will specifically examine staffing, policies for adjusting to adverse weather, and the university's use of outside consultants for strength and conditioning. This follows an initial internal report that identified the Sun Devil Athletics policy on outside consultants and an Exertional Heat Illness Policy, though it failed to assign responsibility for the execution of those rules.
The 75-minute dispute: Player accounts vs. ASU's internal report
A significant conflict has emerged between the administration's findings and the testimony of seven anonymous Arizona State University hockey players. as reported, these players claim the workout lasted over 75 minutes—from 7:05 a.m. until Mayich collapsed around 8:23 a.m.—and that only one brief water break occurred 35 to 45 minutes into the session. The players further alleged that only the first eight athletes to finish a drill received water, leaving Matthew Mayich and most of the team without hydration.
Conversely, the internal report from Arizona State University states that a water break was taken approximately 20 minutes into the event. The university's data indicates that temperatures at Sun Angel Stadium ranged from 86 to 89 degrees Fahrenheit with humidity between 46% and 51%. while the university maintains that Matthew Mayich was medically cleared by the team physician and athletic trainer after arriving from Canada on August 12, the players claim that extra exercise was used as punishment for those who fell behind.
A Green Beret's regimen and the risks of 'Army-style' training
The conditioning session that led to the collapse of Matthew Mayich was led by a former Green Beret and was described as similar to training seen in U.S. Army videos on YouTube. This specific approach to collegiate athletics—importing military-grade intensity into student-athlete conditioning—raises questions about the appropriateness of such regimens in high-heat environments. Matthew Mayich reportedly collapsed while completing a final exercise involving running with a medicine ball.
This incident echoes a broader, precarious trend in sports where "mental toughness" and extreme conditioning are prioritized over physiological safety markers.. for a player like Mayich,who had only been in Arizona for eight days and had participated in very few outdoor circuits prior to August 20, the lack of acclimatization combined with a military-style routine may have created a lethal environment.
Greg Powers' administrative leave and the role of Mike Corbett
Head coach Greg Powers has been placed on administrative leave as the investigation proceeds. In a public statement, Powers expressed his support for the independent review, stating it would allow the process to move forward "without distraction" and that he intends to cooperate fully. He also emphasized his respect for the players' right to speak honestly about their experiences during the workout.
Assistant coach Mike Corbett has stepped in to lead the team as they open their season. while the university has provided a path for student-athletes to submit confidential information to the review, the long-term status of Greg Powers' employment remains undecided.
Who is responsible for the Exertional Heat Illness Policy?
A critical gap remains regarding the accountability of the ASU staff: the internal report mentions the Exertional Heat Illness Policy signed by the team physician but does not specify who was responsible for enforcing it on the field at Sun Angel Stadium. furthermore, it remains unclear why Arizona State University President Michael Crow has not publicly responded to the letter sent by the seven hockey players demanding an external probe.
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