A devastating tragedy that unfolded on a Pennsylvania college football practice field two years ago has led to criminal charges against a former Bucknell University strength and conditioning coach, shining a harsh new spotlight on the persistent dangers of hazing in collegiate athletics. Mark Kulbis, the former coach at the center of the case, faces felony charges of aggravated hazing alongside misdemeanor counts of involuntary manslaughter, according to announcements from the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office. The charges stem from the death of 18-year-old freshman player Calvin “CJ” Dickey Jr., who collapsed mid-practice in July 2024 and died two days later in a local hospital. Prosecutors lay out a damning narrative: Kulbis knowingly subjected Dickey to extreme, punishing hazing on the first day of freshman practice, even after being explicitly informed of the player’s pre-existing Sickle Cell trait, a genetic condition that puts carriers at severe risk of life-threatening complications during intense physical exertion. Per the investigation, Kulbis forced Dickey and other first-year players to complete 100 grueling “up-down” conditioning drills, followed by extended full-body planks—a regimen that prosecutors characterize as a deliberate hazing ritual, not a standard training practice. As the workout wore on, Dickey’s body began to fail under the strain. He lost consciousness on the practice field, and despite emergency medical intervention, he died on July 12. An official autopsy confirmed the cause of death was a combination of the extreme physical activity, Dickey’s Sickle Cell trait, and exertional rhabdomyolysis, a dangerous condition that causes rapid muscle breakdown when the body is pushed far past its safe limits. In their official statement, the attorney general’s office emphasized that this tragedy was entirely preventable. “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 office said. “This is an extraordinary tragedy, worsened by the fact that C.J.’s death was preventable.” Sickle Cell trait, a common genetic blood disorder, is widely documented to leave carriers vulnerable to life-threatening complications during strenuous exercise, a risk that collegiate athletic programs are trained to account for. The legal context of this case carries extra weight: Pennsylvania adopted its current felony-level anti-hazing law in 2017, following the death of 19-year-old Penn State University student Tim Piazza, who died after a brutal fraternity hazing incident. Kulbis’s defense team has pushed back vigorously against all charges. In a statement provided to the BBC, defense attorney Barbara Zemlock called Dickey’s death an unimaginable tragedy, but insisted her client bore no responsibility for the outcome. “The strength and conditioning program that was implemented was appropriate and in accordance with the training that Mr. Kulbis received, and with applicable standards,” Zemlock said. Long before criminal charges were filed, Dickey’s family launched a wrongful death civil lawsuit against Bucknell University and the entire coaching staff, including Kulbis. In their court filing, the family’s legal team reiterated what prosecutors now confirm: the 18-year-old’s death was entirely avoidable. “If Defendants had followed well-established, well-known practices to protect athletes who have sickle cell trait, CJ would still be alive today,” the family’s legal team wrote. The case has reignited national conversations about the enforcement of anti-hazing policies in college sports and the responsibility of coaching staff to prioritize athlete health over traditional, dangerous initiation rituals.
Former Bucknell University football coach charged in hazing death of player
