A 21‑year‑old hockey player at Arizona State University collapsed during an August workout on campus, sending shockwaves through the school’s athletic community.
The workout and its aftermath
The session, overseen by former military service member Tim Ziesel, featured grueling drills — sprints, planks, bear crawls and extra repetitions for those who faltered — under sweltering Tempe conditions.
Rob Carey, a former deputy chief attorney general representing the player’s family, accused the university of mishandling the incident and called for administrative leave for the coaching staff, arguing that the response fell far short of standard investigative protocol.
University’s response
ASU Athletic Director Graham Rossini said the school is conducting a review rather than a formal investigation, a distinction that has drawn criticism from safety advocates who warn that internal reviews often obscure accountability.
The review will be headed by Senior Vice President James Rund, who also serves as executive vice chair for Sun Devil Sports, while the university declined to disclose who authorized the workout or whether coaches were present on site.
Expert warnings
Rod Walters, national director of athlete safety at Andrews Athlete, cautioned that without an independent inquiry the truth may be distorted, recalling the missteps that followed the death of Maryland football player Jordan McNair.
Temperatures that day reached 86°F with 51% humidity and no wind, conditions that the National Weather Service flags as requiring a 15‑minute break each hour of exercise, underscoring the potential danger of the session.
Adding to the legal pressure, former ASU quarterback Sam Keller, who helped secure a landmark victory over the NCAA for name, image and likeness rights, now stands alongside Carey in demanding transparency and accountability.