A former college football coach was charged with felony aggravated hazing related to the death of a former player.
Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday’s office announced that ex- Bucknell University strength and conditioning coach Mark Kulbis is facing the felony charge, as well as misdemeanor counts of involuntary manslaughter, reckless endangerment and hazing for the death of Calvin “CJ” Dickey Jr.
Dickey was 18 years old at the time when he died on July 12, 2024, two days after collapsing during a team workout.
The statement from the AG’s office said that Kulbis made Dickey and other players do 100 up-downs and body plank drills “in spite of training and direction from other coaches that such exercises were not appropriate or safe for use as part of training.”
Dickey had a Sickle Cell trait and was “struggling with the exercises and Kulbis, the only coach in the training room, did not summon help until Dickey passed out.”
The attorney general’s office added that an autopsy revealed that Dickey’s death was “caused by Kulbis subjecting Dickey to the exercises in combination with Dickey’s Sickle Cell trait, body weight, and exertional rhabdomyolysis.”
Kulbis surrendered to authorities on Monday morning and was arraigned on the charges, with bail being set at $10,000.
A preliminary hearing is set for July 28.
Sunday called Dickey’s death “preventable” and that the facts of the case “show this was an intentional, deliberate hazing perpetrated by a coach.”
Dickey’s family had filed a lawsuit against Bucknell University last year for negligence and wrongful death.
Kulbis’ attorney, Barbara Zemlock, said in a statement to ESPN that Dickey’s death was “tragic,” but that her client “did not contribute to it and is not responsible for it.”
“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. “There are facts and other circumstances surrounding this matter that, once presented at the appropriate time, will demonstrate that Mr. Kulbis did not commit the crimes charged.”
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