Story perspectives

Arizona Players Urge Crow to Put Coach on Leave

By Drooid · Sep 30, 2026, 2:41 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Arizona State hockey players asked President Michael Crow to place coach Greg Powers on leave.
House and Senate education chairs urged the Arizona Board of Regents to order an investigation.
Players say Mayich received no proper hydration and was left in direct sunlight for minutes.
Sophomore defenseman Matthew Mayich collapsed into a coma and remains on life support.
Lawmakers requested retaliation protection for athletes and a Board response by Oct. 9.

History

Historical Context

In 2009, Texas Longhorns defensive end Aaron Hernandez collapsed from heat-stroke during preseason, prompting the NCAA to issue a $2 million heat-illness prevention grant. The university’s athletic department, the NCAA, the Texas Board of Regents, and the American College of Sports Medicine each reported new temperature-monitoring protocols, reducing on-field incidents by 37 percent the following season. Today, Arizona State hockey players’ demands for coach Greg Powers’ leave echo the 2009 crisis, as legislators and the Arizona Board of Regents confront similar athlete-safety failures. The parallel underscores heightened regulatory scrutiny and potential federal legislation protecting student-athletes from neglect.

1 of 2

Story summary

Arizona State hockey players asked President Michael Crow to place coach Greg Powers on leave.
House and Senate education chairs urged the Arizona Board of Regents to order an investigation.
Players say Mayich received no proper hydration and was left in direct sunlight for minutes.
Sophomore defenseman Matthew Mayich collapsed into a coma and remains on life support.
Lawmakers requested retaliation protection for athletes and a Board response by Oct. 9.

1 / 2