A former strength and conditioning coach at Bucknell University has been criminally charged in the death of a freshman football player who collapsed during a training session nearly two years ago, Pennsylvania authorities announced Monday.
Mark Kulbis faces felony aggravated hazing charges along with misdemeanor counts of involuntary manslaughter, reckless endangerment, and hazing in connection with the death of Calvin "CJ" Dickey Jr., according to the Pennsylvania Attorney General's office. Bail has been set at $10,000.
The charges stem from a July 2024 training session at the university in which Dickey, a freshman recruited to play lineman positions, was ordered to perform 100 "up-downs" along with full-body plank drills. Dickey had sickle-cell trait, a medical condition that significantly increases the risk of serious injury or death following extreme physical exertion.
During the training session, Dickey began struggling and eventually passed out, according to the attorney general's office. Kulbis was the only coach present in the training room at the time. The freshman was transported to a hospital, where he died two days later.
An autopsy determined that Dickey's death resulted from the combination of the strenuous exercises, his sickle-cell trait, his body weight, and exertional rhabdomyolysis—a rare but life-threatening condition in which muscle tissue breaks down from overexertion or other causes.
Critically, investigators found that Kulbis had been informed of Dickey's medical condition and had received training from Bucknell University regarding sickle-cell trait, according to the attorney general's office. This revelation forms the basis of the criminal charges, as prosecutors argue the coach knowingly placed the athlete at risk.
"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," Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave 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."
The criminal charges follow a civil lawsuit filed by Dickey's family last year against Bucknell University, Kulbis, and several school officials. The lawsuit argues that the athlete's death was "completely avoidable" and states that "If Defendants had followed well-established, well-known practices to protect athletes who have sickle cell trait, CJ would still be alive today."
According to the lawsuit, Dickey and other freshman teammates were ordered to perform the "up-downs"—also known as "burpees"—on the first day of practice as punishment for not executing drills correctly. The exercise requires a person to repeatedly jump to the ground face down and return to a standing position.
Michael Caspino, an attorney representing the family, explained during a news conference that athletes with sickle-cell trait should not be subjected to intense workouts on their first day of practice. "They are to be eased into their practice regiment," he said. "Otherwise, they can get rhabdomyolysis."
Kulbis served as head football strength and conditioning coach at Bucknell University for approximately six years, according to his LinkedIn profile. He departed the position in January 2025, roughly six months after Dickey's death.
Bucknell University issued a statement confirming its cooperation with the attorney general's investigation but declined to comment further. "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," the statement said.
Sickle-cell trait, diagnosed through blood testing, typically does not affect individuals in their daily activities. However, the condition can cause decreased blood flow and muscle breakdown following intense physical exertion, dehydration, or elevated body temperatures. In extremely rare cases, these complications can lead to collapse and death.
The NCAA mandates testing for sickle-cell trait among new athletes and acknowledges on its website that the trait becomes dangerous only in rare situations when "athletes push the limits of their physical conditioning." The organization's guidelines state that "Coaches should conduct appropriate sport-specific conditioning based on sound scientific principles and be ready to intervene when student-athletes show signs of distress."
The case highlights ongoing concerns about athlete safety protocols and the responsibility of coaching staff to recognize and accommodate medical conditions that place student-athletes at heightened risk during training. The criminal prosecution of a college coach in such circumstances remains relatively uncommon, underscoring the severity of the allegations and the evidence gathered by investigators.
