Arizona State University has appointed former Arizona Supreme Court Chief Justice Scott Bales to lead an independent review of the August collapse of hockey player Matthew Mayich during an outdoor workout, the university announced Friday. Mayich, 21, suffered exertional heat stroke that reduced oxygen flow to his brain, leaving him unlikely to recover, according to his family’s attorney. The review will examine planning, approval, staffing, policies and procedures for outdoor athletic activities, as well as the use of outside consultants in strength and conditioning practices, ASU senior vice president James Rund said in a memo to President Michael Crow. The school requested Bales complete his review by early December.
University Appoints Former Justice for Review
Bales served on the Arizona Supreme Court from 2005 to 2019, including five years as its chief justice. ASU’s decision comes amid scrutiny over the workout that occurred on the first day the NCAA permits official activities. The preliminary report found the hockey coaching staff requested permission for Timothy Ziesel, a former Green Beret, to speak with the team during a three-day team-building event but did not submit a plan of training activities for review by ASU’s strength and conditioning coaches prior to the event.
The university placed hockey coach Greg Powers on administrative leave Wednesday, removing him from the team’s season opener at Lindenwood on Friday. Athletic director Graham Rossini stated the focus remains on Mayich and his family, adding that the leave was intended to provide stability for the program. Seven players previously sent an anonymous letter to President Crow urging the coaches involved in the workout to be placed on administrative leave until an independent investigation concludes, citing fears of retribution from coaching staff.
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Family Demands Broader Investigation
While the Mayich family welcomed Bales’ appointment, they expressed dissatisfaction with the scope of his review. In a statement through attorney Rob Carey, the family argued Bales should investigate why the workout was permitted and why it was not halted when players showed visible distress without water or rest. They also seek clarity on which school, conference and NCAA rules were violated.
The family referenced the 2018 death of Maryland football player Jordan McNair, whose school hired outside investigators and reported findings publicly to the Maryland Board of Regents. They called for Bales to report directly to the Arizona Board of Regents rather than to ASU’s own review team, which they claimed overlooked critical issues. The statement emphasized that specialized firms exist to reconstruct exertional heat stroke cases and evaluate emergency preparedness, suggesting ASU either expand Bales’ mandate or appoint a second independent investigator to examine institutional and personnel failures.
