HARRISBURG — Attorney General Dave Sunday announced that all charges were held for court Friday against a Bucknell University strength coach regarding the 2024 death of a freshman football recruit.
Calvin “CJ” Dickey Jr., of Florida, was on campus July 10, 2024, for the first day of freshman football practice when he was directed to do extensive calisthenics, which put him in risk of death due to his Sickle Cell trait.
Prosecutors presented testimony Friday that Mark Kulbis, the university’s strength and conditioning coach at the time, subjected Dickey to the hazing, even after being made aware of Dickey’s medical condition and receiving training from the university on Sickle Cell trait and state law and NCAA standards regarding hazing.
Following the hearing, a magisterial district judge ordered charges of felony aggravated hazing and misdemeanor counts of involuntary manslaughter, reckless endangerment, and hazing be bound over for county court.
“This was an important step in the prosecution process and in our continued pursuit of justice for a young man who died tragically due to the defendant’s conduct,” Attorney General Sunday said.
The investigation showed that, prior to the first-day practice on July 10, 2024, Kulbis subjected Dickey, and other players, to 100 “up-downs” and several full-body plank drills — both considered extraneous calisthenic exercises. This was done in spite of training and direction from other coaches that such exercises were not appropriate or safe for use as part of training.
Dickey was treated at an area hospital, but died on July 12, 2024. An autopsy determined the death was caused by Kulbis subjecting Dickey to the exercises in combination with Dickey’s Sickle Cell trait, body weight, and exertional rhabdomyolysis.
The case is being prosecuted by Senior Deputy Attorney General Jaime Keating. Criminal charges, and any discussion thereof, are merely allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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