Former NHL head coach to take over ASU program after tragic start to the season

The Arizona State Sun Devils hockey program has been in turmoil since late August, when a workout gone horribly wrong left one of their players fighting for his life. Now, as the fallout continues and the university scrambles to move forward, a familiar name from the NHL coaching ranks appears poised to step behind the bench in Tempe.

Multiple reports surfaced Monday indicating that Dave Hakstol, currently an assistant with the Colorado Avalanche, is in advanced negotiations to take over as head coach of the ASU men's hockey team. Other candidates have reportedly been informed they are no longer in contention, and Hakstol could potentially be running the bench as early as this Friday when the Sun Devils travel to face UMass-Lowell. The Avalanche confirmed they granted Hakstol permission to speak with Arizona State about the role.

A Coaching Resume Built for This Moment

Hakstol, 58, is no stranger to the college game or to high-pressure situations. The Drayton Valley, Alberta native spent over a decade as head coach at the University of North Dakota, his alma mater, from 2004 to 2015. During that stretch, he guided the Fighting Hawks to seven Frozen Four appearances and captured a national championship. His success at the collegiate level eventually earned him a jump to the NHL, where he served as head coach of the Philadelphia Flyers from 2015 to 2018 and the Seattle Kraken from 2021 to 2024. He also spent time as an assistant with the Toronto Maple Leafs before joining Colorado's staff last season.

There is also a personal connection worth noting: Hakstol's son, Brenden, plays on ASU's ACHA II team. The status of the remaining assistants from Greg Powers' staff, including acting coach Mike Corbett, has not yet been determined. Corbett guided the team through its first two weekends of the season, splitting a pair of series against Lindenwood and Holy Cross. ASU athletic director Graham Rossini indicated in a radio interview that Corbett was viewed as a temporary solution to simply get through those early games before a more permanent replacement could be found.

Should Hakstol officially leave Colorado, reports suggest the Avalanche may look to bring in former Vancouver Canucks assistant Brett McLean as a replacement on Jared Bednar's staff.

The Shadow Over the Program

The coaching change is, of course, rooted in tragedy. On August 20, the first day the NCAA permits official team activities, 21-year-old defenseman Matthew Mayich collapsed during an outdoor workout. According to his family's attorney, Rob Carey, Mayich suffered external heat stroke that severely reduced oxygen flow to his brain. He remains on life support with no chance of meaningful recovery.

The workout was led by a former Green Beret named Tim Ziesel, whom Powers had met earlier in the year through a team supporter. While Ziesel had been approved to meet with the team, the specific workout he conducted was never submitted for approval through the proper university channels, according to ASU's initial review. Seven players later sent an anonymous letter to university president Michael Crow through an attorney, fearing retribution from the coaching staff. The letter called for an independent investigation, asked that the coaches involved be placed on leave, and pointed out discrepancies in the school's initial findings.

Powers was placed on paid administrative leave on September 30, more than 40 days after the incident. His longtime top assistant and close friend, Alex Hicks, was also removed from team activities. Powers released a statement saying he would cooperate fully with any review and encouraged players to speak candidly.

ASU has since asked former Arizona State Supreme Court chief justice Scott Bales to lead an independent review, with a target completion date in early December. However, the Mayich family has expressed dissatisfaction with the scope of the investigation, arguing it should focus on determining what went wrong during the workout and who bears responsibility, rather than simply reviewing existing school policies.

Corbett, who was present at the workout, addressed the emotional toll on the coaching staff during a news conference over the weekend. He acknowledged the pain the situation has caused everyone involved while pushing back against the idea that the coaches are indifferent to what happened.

Hakstol's expected arrival brings a wealth of experience and credibility to a program desperately in need of stability. But no coaching hire, no matter how qualified the candidate, can undo the damage already done. Matthew Mayich remains in a coma, his family is still seeking answers, and an independent review is only just getting underway. For Arizona State hockey, the path forward is going to be defined as much by accountability as it is by wins and losses.