(BCSNN) -- A former Bucknell strength and conditioning coach was charged Monday with felony aggravated hazing in connection with the 2024 death of freshman football player Calvin “CJ” Dickey Jr., who collapsed during his first workout with the team, according to the Pennsylvania attorney general and court documents.
Mark Kulbis also faces misdemeanor counts of involuntary manslaughter, reckless endangerment and hazing in Dickey’s death.
“While the death of Calvin Dickey is tragic, Mark Kulbis did not contribute to it and is not responsible for it,” Kulbis’ attorney, Barbara Zemlock, said in a statement to ESPN. She said the training program was appropriate and aligned with his instruction and industry standards, adding that “facts and other circumstances” will show he did not commit the crimes charged. “We intend to vigorously defend the charges,” she said.
Bucknell confirmed it is aware of the charges. A LinkedIn page for Kulbis shows he left the university in January 2025.
“Bucknell has cooperated with the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office throughout its investigation,” a school spokesperson said. “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.”
Dickey died July 12, 2024, two days after collapsing at a team workout. He was 18. His family’s attorney told ESPN that Dickey collapsed from sickle cell‑related rhabdomyolysis, a condition experts say is preventable — and reversible — by stopping exercise.
According to the attorney general, Kulbis subjected Dickey and other players to 100 up‑downs and several full‑body plank drills “in spite of training and direction from other coaches that such exercises were not appropriate or safe.” Dickey was “visibly struggling,” and Kulbis “did not summon help until Dickey passed out,” the office said.
Attorney General Dave Sunday called the case “an intentional, deliberate hazing perpetrated by a coach who knew C.J.’s health condition made him vulnerable to extreme workouts.” He said Kulbis received information about Dickey’s sickle cell trait and NCAA anti‑hazing training but disregarded both. “This is an extraordinary tragedy, worsened by the fact that C.J.’s death was preventable,” Sunday said.
Dickey’s parents sued Bucknell in 2025, alleging the university knew of his sickle cell trait diagnosis, cleared him to play and failed to protect him. The lawsuit accuses the school of negligence and wrongful death.
The NCAA requires sickle cell trait testing for all athletes, noting that sudden deaths involving the trait have occurred exclusively during conditioning sessions. Its guidance instructs coaches to use sport‑specific conditioning based on scientific principles and intervene when athletes show signs of distress.
In a statement to ESPN, attorneys for the Dickey family said, “The Dickey family is grateful that criminal charges have been filed in connection with CJ’s preventable death. This is a meaningful measure of criminal accountability, as the civil case against Bucknell continues.”
Kulbis surrendered Monday and was arraigned. Bail was set at $10,000, and a preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 28.
