Former strength and conditioning coach Mark Kulbis at Bucknell University is now facing criminal charges after the death of a freshman football player two years ago.

According to ESPN, the Pennsylvania Attorney General's office announced on Monday that Kulbis has been charged in connection with the death of lineman Calvin "CJ" Dickey Jr., who collapsed during a training session in July 2024 and passed away two days later.

"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.

Dickey had the sickle-cell trait. It's a genetic condition that puts athletes at serious risk when their bodies are pushed too hard too fast.

"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. This is an extraordinary tragedy, worsened by the fact that C.J.'s death was preventable," AG Dave Sunday said in the statement per ESPN.

What makes this case particularly difficult is that Dickey's condition was not a secret. Kulbis had been informed of it and received specific training from the school on how to manage it.

On that first day of practice in July 2024, Dickey and other freshmen were allegedly ordered to complete 100 up-downs, also known as burpees, along with full-body plank drills. The exercises were handed out as punishment for not executing drills correctly. Dickey began struggling and collapsed. Kulbis was the only coach present at the time.

An autopsy later determined that the combination of the exercise, his sickle-cell trait, his body weight, and a condition called exertional rhabdomyolysis, where muscles break down from overexertion, caused his death.

A felony aggravated hazing charge has been brought against Kulbis, alongside three misdemeanor counts, including involuntary manslaughter. He was released on bail set at $10,000. At the time of writing, his lawyer had not yet responded to requests for comment.

Calvin Dickey Jr’s family had already filed a civil lawsuit against Bucknell University

Last year, Dickey's family took legal action against the university, Kulbis and several school officials.

The family's attorney Michael Caspino said at the time that athletes with the sickle-cell trait are not supposed to be pushed hard on their first day of practice.

"They are to be eased into their practice regimen. Otherwise, they can get rhabdomyolysis," Caspino said, per NBC News.

The family's civil lawsuit made the point that none of this needed to happen.

Bucknell cooperated with the investigation but didn't say anything further publicly given the legal proceedings still in motion, per the Associated Press. Kulbis was gone from the university six months after Dickey's passing.

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Written by

Farheen Fathima

Edited by

Shubhi Rathore