Arizona State Taps Former Chief Justice for Independent Review of Hockey Player's Collapse

Arizona State University has enlisted Scott Bales, a former chief justice of the Arizona Supreme Court, to lead an independent review of the August collapse of hockey player Matthew Mayich during an outdoor workout. The move comes amid growing pressure from the Mayich family and players for a thorough investigation into what went wrong.

James Rund, ASU senior vice president of educational outreach and student services, announced the appointment in a memo to university President Michael Crow on Friday. Bales will review the university's findings, information from attorneys for the Mayich family, legal representatives of hockey team members, and law enforcement records.

Mayich, 21, collapsed on the first day the NCAA permits official activities. He suffered exertional heat stroke, which reduced oxygen flow to his brain. According to family attorney Rob Carey, Mayich is unlikely to recover.

What will the independent review cover?

Rund stated that Bales will make recommendations on the planning, approval, staffing, policies, and procedures for outdoor athletic activities. He will also examine the use of outside consultants in strength and conditioning practices. The university has requested that Bales complete his review by early December.

Bales served on the Arizona Supreme Court from 2005 to 2019, including five years as chief justice. His appointment is seen as a step toward transparency, but the Mayich family has expressed concerns about the scope of his mandate.

Why is the Mayich family dissatisfied with the review's scope?

In a statement released through Carey, the family welcomed Bales but criticized the limited focus. They argue the review should investigate why the workout was permitted and why it continued while players showed visible distress, with no water or rest breaks. They also want to know which school, conference, and NCAA rules were violated.

“Justice Bales is a respected choice and he will do an excellent job. But ASU hired him to review policies that may help prevent a tragedy like this in the future. That's not what's needed right now,” the statement said. “What is necessary, and what the Mayich family has asked for and deserves, is an investigation of what went wrong on that field and who is responsible. Justice Bales has not been asked to answer those fundamental questions.”

The family drew parallels to the 2018 death of Maryland football player Jordan McNair, who collapsed during a workout. Maryland hired outside investigators and reported publicly to the Maryland Board of Regents. The Mayich family is calling for Bales to report to the Arizona Board of Regents, not to ASU's administration, which they say has already missed too much.

What do the players and coaches say about the incident?

Arizona State's preliminary report revealed that the hockey coaching staff had requested permission for Timothy Ziesel, a former Green Beret, to address the team during a three-day team-building event. However, the staff did not submit a training plan for review by ASU's strength and conditioning coaches beforehand.

On Wednesday, the university placed head coach Greg Powers on administrative leave. He will not accompany the team for its season opener at Lindenwood on Friday. Athletic director Graham Rossini explained the decision: “Our focus continues to be on Matthew and his family, and on our student-athletes to make sure they have the support they need during this time and as the season begins. We have continued to collect as much information as possible. After thorough and careful deliberation, I believe this is the best move to provide stability for the hockey program.”

Seven players, acting anonymously through an attorney due to fear of retribution, sent a letter to President Crow urging the school to place the coaches involved on administrative leave until an independent investigation is completed. They noted that other players declined to sign out of similar fears. Mayich's parents, John and Christina, issued a statement on Tuesday supporting the players' request.

What are the next steps for the investigation?

The university has not yet announced whether Bales will expand his mandate. The Mayich family has suggested that ASU either broaden his authority to include questions of responsibility and institutional failure, or appoint a second independent investigator to examine the conduct of employees and those who ran the workout.

As the review proceeds, the hockey team prepares to start its season without its head coach. The outcome of Bales' investigation, due by early December, will likely shape the university's future policies on outdoor athletic activities and could have broader implications for NCAA programs nationwide.