A former strength and conditioning coach at Bucknell University has been charged in the death of a freshman football player who collapsed during training in July 2024. Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday announced Monday that Mark Kulbis faces felony aggravated hazing and misdemeanor counts of involuntary manslaughter, reckless endangerment, and hazing.
According to the attorney general's office, Kulbis instructed freshman football player Calvin "CJ" Dickey Jr. and other players to perform 100 "up-downs" and full-body plank drills. Dickey, who had sickle cell trait, began to struggle and passed out during the exercise. Kulbis was reportedly the only coach present in the training room at the time.
Dickey was hospitalized and died two days later. An autopsy determined his death was caused by the strenuous exercises in combination with his sickle cell trait, body weight, and exertional rhabdomyolysis, a condition where muscles break down from overexertion.
Prosecutors stated that Kulbis had been informed of Dickey's medical condition and received training from the university regarding it. "The facts show this was an intentional, deliberate hazing perpetrated by a coach who knew C.J.’s health condition made him vulnerable to extreme workouts," Attorney General Sunday said in a statement. "The facts show this defendant received information about C.J.’s health condition, along with training about NCAA anti-hazing standards, and disregarded that information."
Bucknell University has stated that it has cooperated with the attorney general's investigation. "Because this is now an active criminal matter, and related civil litigation remains pending, the University will not comment on the allegations or legal proceedings," a university statement read.
Dickey's family filed a lawsuit against the university, Kulbis, and several school officials last year, alleging that the athlete's death was "completely avoidable." The lawsuit claims that if proper practices for athletes with sickle cell trait had been followed, Dickey would still be alive. His family's attorney stated that athletes with sickle cell trait should be eased into practice regimens, especially on the first day, to prevent rhabdomyolysis.
Kulbis served as Bucknell's head football strength and conditioning coach for approximately six years, leaving the university in January 2025, about six months after Dickey's death. Sickle cell trait, typically asymptomatic, can lead to serious complications including collapse and death in rare instances of extreme exertion, dehydration, or high body temperatures. The NCAA requires testing for sickle cell trait and advises coaches to follow scientific conditioning principles and intervene when athletes show distress.