A former strength and conditioning coach at Bucknell University has been charged in the death of Calvin Dickey Jr., a freshman who collapsed during a July 2024 practice session and died two days later.
The Drill That Turned Tragic
According to investigators, Mark Kulbis ordered Dickey and several teammates to perform 100 "up‑downs" and full‑body plank drills as a form of punishment on the first day of practice. The coach had been informed of Dickey's sickle‑cell trait, a genetic condition that can precipitate severe complications under extreme exertion.
During the session, Dickey began to struggle, lost consciousness, and was rushed to a hospital where he was pronounced dead two days later. An autopsy concluded that his death resulted from the combination of the strenuous exercises, his sickle‑cell trait, body weight, and ensuing exertional rhabdomyolysis.
Legal Repercussions
Kulbis was subsequently charged with felony aggravated hazing and misdemeanor counts of involuntary manslaughter, reckless endangerment, and hazing. Bail was set at $10,000, and Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday publicly described the hazing as "intentional and deliberate."
The Dickey family, represented by attorney Michael Caspino, filed a lawsuit against Bucknell University, Kulbis, and several school officials, arguing that the tragedy was avoidable and that adherence to established safety practices could have prevented the death.
NCAA Oversight and Prevention
The NCAA mandates that all new student‑athletes undergo sickle‑cell trait testing and recommends that coaches monitor athletes for signs of distress during intense conditioning. The organization also advises that conditioning regimens be modified for athletes with known medical vulnerabilities.
Kulbis served as Bucknell's head football strength and conditioning coach for approximately six years before departing the program in January 2025. The university has cooperated fully with the attorney general's office throughout the investigation.