Arizona State University has finally made a major move in the aftermath of Matthew Mayich’s devastating collapse. On Wednesday, the university placed Sun Devils head coach Greg Powers on paid administrative leave as the investigation into the 21-year-old defenseman’s condition continues.

Assistant coach Mike Corbett will lead ASU when the season opens against Lindenwood this weekend, while the university said it will name an interim head coach soon.

“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,” ASU Athletics Director Graham Rossini said. “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.”

The decision came just two days after seven of Mayich’s teammates sent a 26-page letter to ASU president Michael Crow. The players challenged parts of the university’s account of the Aug. 20 workout and asked that the coaches involved be placed on leave while an independent investigation continued.

The timing also followed Mayich’s parents calling for Powers and his staff to be removed.

Mayich collapsed during an intense, military-style outdoor workout led by former U.S. Army Green Beret Tim Ziesel. The session took place in roughly 30°C conditions, and Mayich suffered exertional heat stroke that reduced oxygen flow to his brain. He has remained hospitalized at Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, with his family attorney Robert Carey saying his condition has not changed for more than a month and that he has no chance of recovery.

That has made the questions surrounding the workout increasingly difficult to ignore.

Matthew Mayich’s family reacts to ASU’s latest decision

The players’ letter alleged that several safety measures were not properly followed, including progressive acclimatization to Arizona’s heat, regular rest periods and access to fluids. According to the players, the 75-minute workout involved constant exertion, with only those who performed well allowed breaks to hydrate.

The letter also claimed Powers described Mayich’s condition as “just a little head stroke” and said he only needed an IV. The players further alleged that Mayich did not receive adequate medical attention after collapsing.

ASU’s internal review had already found that the coaching staff did not vet the training plan for the workout. Powers, who was present that day and has coached the Sun Devils since 2010, later faced questions about accountability but defended his position during a Sept. 23 media session.

Now, the university has removed him from the team’s immediate operations.
But for Mayich’s family, that step does not go nearly far enough.

Carey told local media that the family wanted the entire coaching staff placed on paid leave from the beginning, alongside an independent investigation. “On day one, we asked ASU to put the coaching staff on leave,” the family said through its attorneys. “Putting Powers on leave while his best friend of the last decade stays in charge of the locker room doesn’t solve the problem.”

That concern is particularly significant because Carey believes players may still fear speaking openly while members of Powers’ close coaching circle remain around the team.

He said players could worry that their playing time or scholarships might be affected if they speak out about what happened.

The family has also questioned the timing of ASU’s decision. Carey argued that placing Powers on leave just before the season opener creates unnecessary disruption and said the move should have happened in August.

Beyond the coaching situation, Carey has raised concerns about preserving potential evidence, including videos, photographs, messages, emails, and security footage. Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell has said her office will not launch a separate investigation, explaining that parallel investigations would be inappropriate and that her office’s role is prosecution rather than taking over police work.

Carey said he can accept that decision provided investigators properly secure and preserve the evidence.

Meanwhile, the National College Hockey Conference has backed ASU’s decision while stressing that it will not prejudge the investigation. The conference said the concerns raised by players deserve a thorough review and that the welfare of student-athletes comes before hockey.

For ASU, the immediate challenge is keeping the team together as the season begins. Corbett will take charge against Lindenwood, but the larger questions surrounding the Aug. 20 workout remain unanswered.

And for Mayich’s family, the focus has never really shifted. They want accountability, an independent examination of what happened and, above all, answers about how a preseason workout ended with a 21-year-old athlete fighting for his life.