Former Bucknell Coach Charged Over 2024 Football Player Death

On July 6, 2026, criminal charges were formally announced against Mark Kulbis, a former strength and conditioning coach at Bucknell University, in connection with the July 2024 death of freshman football player Calvin "CJ" Dickey Jr. Kulbis faces felony aggravated hazing, alongside misdemeanor counts of involuntary manslaughter, reckless endangerment, and hazing.

According to reports detailing the investigation, Dickey collapsed during a summer training session after Kulbis instructed him to perform 100 "up-downs" and a series of full-body plank drills. Prosecutors allege Kulbis ignored the athlete's known sickle-cell trait, and the extreme physical demands of the session preceded the freshman's death, prompting a prolonged inquiry by authorities into the conduct and oversight of the university's athletic staff.

The family of the deceased player has publicly addressed the legal developments. Following the announcement, his mother, Nicole Dickey, stated that she appreciated the decision by the Pennsylvania attorney general to pursue the case. The family expressed relief that an individual is being held legally accountable for the fatal incident.

The prosecution of a collegiate football leader brings renewed focus to systemic failures in protecting student-athletes from dangerous training practices. The charges highlight ongoing vulnerabilities within university sports programs, where extreme physical conditioning is frequently rationalised as standard preparation, often at the expense of basic safeguarding protocols.

Legal proceedings against Kulbis are currently developing. The case is expected to examine the criminal liability of athletic staff and the institutional responsibility of universities when student-athletes are subjected to hazardous training environments.