Bucknell Hazing Death
Former Bucknell Coach Charged with Felony Hazing in Football Player's Death
Key Points
The specific hazing-style workout included 100 up-downs and full-body plank drills, with Kulbis reportedly the only coach in the training room when freshman Calvin “CJ” Dickey Jr. began struggling and later collapsed.
Kulbis surrendered to authorities and bail was set at $10,000 as the case moved to court.
A preliminary hearing for Kulbis is scheduled for July 28 (the case has progressed through the courts in the Bucknell matter).
Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday described the death as preventable and characterized it as intentional hazing—noting that Kulbis received health information and NCAA anti-hazing guidance yet allegedly disregarded it.
Defense attorneys have publicly asserted that the Bucknell strength and conditioning program was appropriate and in line with the training Kulbis received and prevailing standards, arguing he is not responsible for the tragedy.
A former Bucknell University strength and conditioning coach has been charged with felony aggravated hazing in the death of freshman football player Calvin "CJ" Dickey Jr., who collapsed during a workout in July 2024 and died two days later. Washington Post reported that Mark Kulbis faces multiple misdemeanor counts alongside the felony charge, with bail set at $10,000 after he surrendered to authorities.
Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday described the death as preventable. He called it "intentional hazing." The case has drawn statewide attention and prompted a wrongful-death lawsuit from Dickey's family against the university.
A July Workout That Turned Deadly
Dickey, a freshman from the Bucknell football team, collapsed during a training session in July 2024. According to Bleacher Report, the workout included 100 up-downs and full-body plank drills. Kulbis was reportedly the only coach in the training room when Dickey began struggling. Dickey died two days after the collapse.
An autopsy linked Dickey's death to the exercises combined with his sickle-cell trait, his body weight, and a condition called exertional rhabdomyolysis. That condition happens when intense exercise breaks down muscle tissue so fast it can poison the kidneys and other organs. Investigators say the warning signs were there — and ignored.
Coach Ignored Health Warnings and NCAA Guidance, Prosecutors Say
Attorney General Sunday said Kulbis received health information about Dickey before the session. He also had access to NCAA anti-hazing guidance. Prosecutors say he disregarded both. Head Topics reported that other coaches also warned Kulbis, but he pressed ahead with the drills anyway.
Sunday framed the workout not as a training mishap but as deliberate hazing. That distinction matters legally. Felony aggravated hazing carries far more serious penalties than a training accident or negligence charge. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 28.
Defense Argues Training Was Within Standard Norms
Kulbis's defense attorneys pushed back hard. They said the Bucknell strength and conditioning program was appropriate and in line with the training Kulbis received. They argued he followed prevailing standards and is not responsible for Dickey's death. Winnipeg Free Press noted that Bucknell officials have also said the program met accepted standards.
That defense sets up a core dispute for the courtroom: whether the drills were standard training or illegal hazing. The outcome could set a precedent for how coaches and universities are held accountable for athlete safety going forward.
Family Lawsuit Adds Pressure on Bucknell University
Dickey's family filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against Bucknell University. The suit targets the institution directly, not just the coach. It signals that the family believes the university shares responsibility for what happened to their son that July day.
The case puts a spotlight on a broader problem in college sports: hazing, athlete safety, and who is truly in charge when things go wrong. CJ Dickey was 18 years old. He had just started his college career. His death has now become a landmark test of accountability in collegiate athletics.
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