Arizona State finally made a move on Wednesday regarding head coach Greg Powers, placing him on administrative leave more than a month after one of his players, Matthew Mayich, collapsed during an intense outdoor workout in the August heat. Mayich, according to his family’s lawyer, fell into a coma with “zero chance of recovery.”
The Decision, But Not The Solution
The school’s athletic director, Graham Rossini, said their focus is on Mayich, his family, and the student-athletes, emphasizing the need for stability as the season kicks off. Assistant coach Mike Corbett is stepping in to lead the Sun Devils for their season opener. But here’s the kicker: the players themselves, in a letter to President Michael Crow, had asked for the *entire* coaching staff to be put on leave. Why? They were all there during the August 20 workout, and the team worried about retaliation if some coaches stayed. Mayich’s parents echoed that sentiment, pushing for Powers’ leave so players would feel safe to “tell the truth.”
The Unanswered Questions
Despite the administrative leave for Powers, the Mayich family is far from satisfied. Their attorney, Rob Carey, put it bluntly: “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 “best friend” is Corbett, the guy now coaching the team. Powers, who’s been on the job for 17 seasons, has been accused by his players of downplaying the severity of Mayich’s condition right after the workout. When he finally faced reporters, all he’d say was it was a “difficult time” for the program, ducking all other questions. The players’ letter sheds more light on that brutal August 20 workout, too. They said it was way more intense than initial reports, with players getting “punishment” for falling behind a “cutoff line.” The workout was led by former Green Beret Tim Ziesel, who, for his part, denies that players were denied water and claims he left campus right before Mayich collapsed.
So, Corbett’s got the reins for now, leading the team into the season opener while the biggest questions still hang heavy. Will the players, with Corbett in charge, feel like they can truly speak freely? And what will it take for the Mayich family to feel like justice is actually being served? This saga is far from over.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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