A former strength and conditioning coach at Bucknell University now faces criminal charges after a 2023 training session turned fatal for sophomore football player Calvin "CJ" Dickey Jr.
The Training That Turned Deadly
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. The intense routine quickly exhausted the young athlete, who began to show signs of distress and eventually lost consciousness.
Dickey was rushed to a hospital but could not be revived; he died two days later. An autopsy revealed that he carried the sickle‑cell trait, a genetic condition that can heighten the risk of severe injury or death when pushed to extreme physical limits.
The Dickey family has filed a civil lawsuit alleging that the university and Kulbis failed to protect the player, arguing that his death was "completely avoidable" given the known medical vulnerability and the excessive nature of the punishment.
Bucknell University released a brief statement confirming that it has cooperated fully with the attorney general’s office throughout the investigation, while declining to comment further on the pending litigation.
Implications for Campus Sports Culture
The case has reignited discussions about hazing policies at colleges across the country, with advocates calling for stricter oversight and mandatory medical screenings for athletes with known health conditions. Legal experts say the outcome could set a precedent for how institutions balance competitive discipline with player safety.