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Former Bucknell Coach Charged With Aggravated Hazing in Player's Death
A former Bucknell University strength and conditioning coach faces felony aggravated hazing charges after a freshman football player collapsed during drills and died two days later. Prosecutors say the coach knew the player had sickle cell trait yet ordered unsafe exercises.
Jul 7, 6:55 AM·1m read3 sources
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A former Bucknell University strength and conditioning coach was charged Monday with aggravated hazing in the 2024 death of freshman football player Calvin "CJ" Dickey Jr. Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday announced the charges. The coach, identified as Mark Kulbis, also faces misdemeanor counts of involuntary manslaughter and reckless endangerment.
Investigators said Kulbis ordered Dickey and other freshmen to perform 100 "up-downs" and multiple full-body plank drills on the first day of practice. Other coaches had warned that the exercises were unsafe, according to the attorney general's office.
Dickey, who had sickle cell trait, showed visible distress during the drills. Kulbis did not seek medical help until Dickey lost consciousness, the office said. Dickey was hospitalized and died on July 12, 2024. An autopsy concluded the death resulted from the combination of the exercises, his sickle cell trait, body weight, and exertional rhabdomyolysis.
The attorney general's office said Kulbis knew about Dickey's medical condition and had received university training on sickle cell trait and hazing prevention. The felony charge stems from a Pennsylvania law enacted after the 2017 hazing death of Penn State student Tim Piazza.
" — Attorney General Dave Sunday, press release Kulbis is scheduled for a preliminary hearing in the coming weeks. No trial date has been set.
