The Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General filed criminal charges on Monday against former Bucknell University strength and conditioning coach Mark Kulbis for the 2024 hazing death of freshman football recruit Calvin "CJ" Dickey Jr.
Kulbis surrendered Monday morning and was arraigned on five charges, including a felony count of aggravated hazing and misdemeanor complaints of involuntary manslaughter, reckless endangerment, hazing with brutality, and hazing with a reasonable likelihood of bodily injury.
His bail was set at $10,000 unsecured, and his next court hearing is scheduled for July 28.
Details of the Incident
Dickey, a 6-foot-5, 270-pound lineman from Florida, collapsed on July 10, 2024, during his first day of freshman practice after Kulbis forced him and other players to perform 100 "up-downs" and multiple full-body plank drills.
Authorities said Kulbis remained the only coach in the training area and failed to seek medical help until Dickey passed out, despite noticing the recruit struggling and knowing Dickey had sickle cell trait.
Dickey died two days later at a nearby hospital.
An autopsy concluded the cause of death was extreme calisthenics combined with sickle cell trait, body weight, and exertional rhabdomyolysis.
The case was referred to the state level last year by the Union County District Attorney.
Investigations showed Kulbis had previously received anti-hazing and sickle cell training from the university.
The aggravated hazing felony charge was established by the Pennsylvania Legislature after the 2017 hazing death of Penn State student Tim Piazza.
Dickey's parents filed a civil lawsuit against Bucknell, Kulbis, and other officials in April 2025 but withdrew the case later that year.
Attorney General Dave Sunday said the charges follow a two-year investigation. "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," Sunday stated.
Sunday emphasized that Kulbis had received institutional training on safety regulations but chose to ignore those directives. "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," he said.
Senior Deputy Attorney General Jaime Keating will lead the prosecution against Kulbis, who worked as Bucknell's strength coach from 2019 to 2025 after previous stints at Dartmouth, Ohio State, and Austin Peay.
