A Tragic Case of Exertional Hazing
The death of Calvin 'CJ' Dickey Jr., a freshman wide receiver at Bucknell University, shocked the campus community in July 2024 when he collapsed during an early‑season conditioning session.
According to investigators, Coach Mark Kulbis ordered the team to perform 100 'up‑downs' and full‑body plank drills as a punitive exercise on the first day of practice, despite being aware that Dickey carried the sickle‑cell trait.
Witnesses said Dickey began to struggle midway through the drills, lost consciousness, and was rushed to a hospital where he was pronounced dead two days later.
An autopsy revealed that his death resulted from a combination of extreme exertion, dehydration, body weight and the physiological stress of his sickle‑cell trait, leading to exertional rhabdomyolysis.
Kulbis was subsequently charged with felony aggravated hazing, along with misdemeanor counts of involuntary manslaughter, reckless endangerment and hazing; his bail was set at $10,000.
Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday described the alleged conduct as 'intentional and deliberate,' emphasizing that the hazing was not a mere lapse but a calculated act.
Bucknell University issued a statement confirming that it cooperated fully with the attorney general’s office and expressed condolences to Dickey’s family, while also acknowledging that the institution will review its athletic safety protocols.
The Dickey family, represented by attorney Michael Caspino, filed a lawsuit alleging that the university and Kulbis failed to implement established safeguards for athletes with sickle‑cell trait, arguing that adherence to those practices would have prevented the tragedy.
The case has reignited discussion about the NCAA’s requirement that incoming athletes be screened for sickle‑cell trait and the organization’s guidance for coaches to tailor conditioning and intervene promptly when distress signals appear.
Kulbis, who served as Bucknell’s head strength and conditioning coach for roughly six years, resigned in January 2025, about six months after Dickey’s death, leaving the program without its longtime architect of physical development.