Former Bucknell Coach Charged in Connection with Football Player's Death

A former strength and conditioning coach at Bucknell University, Mark Kulbis, has been charged in the death of freshman football player Calvin “CJ” Dickey Jr., who collapsed during training in July 2024. The Pennsylvania Attorney General's office reported that Dickey, who had sickle-cell trait, was instructed to perform 100 "up-downs" and full-body plank drills when he began to struggle and subsequently passed out. He died two days later in the hospital.

An autopsy determined that Dickey's death resulted from the exercises combined with his medical condition, body weight, and exertional rhabdomyolysis. Kulbis has been charged with felony aggravated hazing and misdemeanor counts of involuntary manslaughter, reckless endangerment, and hazing, with bail set at $10,000. The university stated it has cooperated with the investigation but will not comment further due to ongoing legal matters, including a lawsuit filed by Dickey's family against the university and Kulbis.