Allegations of Negligence in Training Protocols
The charges against Mark Kulbis, announced Monday, center on a training session held in July 2024. According to the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office, Kulbis directed Calvin “CJ” Dickey Jr. and other team members to perform 100 “up-downs”—or burpees—along with full-body plank drills.
Attorney General Dave Sunday stated that the coach was aware of Dickey’s sickle-cell trait, a condition that can increase the risk of injury during extreme exertion, yet ignored established NCAA anti-hazing and safety standards. Prosecutors allege that Dickey was “visibly struggling” during the drills and that Kulbis failed to summon medical assistance until the athlete had already lost consciousness.
According to the attorney general’s office, Kulbis remained the sole coach present in the training room during the session. The charges include felony aggravated hazing, which carries significant legal weight, alongside misdemeanor counts of involuntary manslaughter and reckless endangerment. Bail for the former coach was set at $10,000.
Defense Arguments and Institutional Stance
Legal representatives for Kulbis have signaled a vigorous defense. Barbara Zemlock, the attorney for Kulbis, issued a statement, asserting that the strength and conditioning program was standard and appropriate.
Zemlock further noted that there are additional facts and circumstances that will be presented at the appropriate time to demonstrate that the coach did not commit the charged crimes. Kulbis, who served as the university’s head football strength and conditioning coach for approximately six years, left his position in January 2025.
Bucknell University officials confirmed that the institution has cooperated with the Attorney General’s Office throughout the investigation. Because civil litigation filed by the Dickey family remains active, the university has declined to comment further on the specific allegations or the ongoing criminal proceedings.
Medical Risks and Safety Oversight
The death of Calvin “CJ” Dickey Jr. has drawn renewed scrutiny to the management of athletes with sickle-cell trait. The condition, which is typically diagnosed via blood screening, does not usually impact daily life but can trigger muscle breakdown, or exertional rhabdomyolysis, when an athlete experiences intense dehydration or extreme physical exertion.
Since 2010, the NCAA has required mandatory testing for sickle-cell trait among Division I athletes. The governing body’s guidelines explicitly advise coaches to allow for gradual intensity increases and adequate recovery time for those with the trait. The lawsuit filed by the Dickey family alleges that these protocols were ignored, claiming the freshman was subjected to extreme workouts as punishment for drill errors.
Michael Caspino, the attorney representing the family, stated during a previous press conference that athletes with the trait should be eased into their conditioning regimens to prevent life-threatening complications. In the wake of the tragedy, the family established a foundation to raise awareness regarding the health of student-athletes and provides scholarships for football linemen.
Broader Legal Precedents for Coaching Accountability
Criminal charges against coaches in athlete death cases are rare but not unprecedented. In Georgia, a high school basketball coach and an assistant faced murder charges following the 2019 heat-related death of 16-year-old Imani Bell, a case that remains pending. The school district in that instance reached a $10 million settlement with the family.
For the Dickey family, the recent charges represent a step toward accountability. Calvin Dickey Sr. expressed his desire to see the legal process through, telling the press he and his wife are focused on following the evidence as the case moves forward.
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