Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday has filed criminal charges against former Bucknell football strength and conditioning coach Mark Kulbis, following the 2024 death of player CJ Dickey Jr. Kulbis faces felony aggravated hazing and misdemeanor counts including involuntary manslaughter and reckless endangerment. The charges stem from a summer workout session where Dickey collapsed after undergoing extreme physical exercises despite his known sickle-cell trait. This case is significant as criminal prosecution of coaches for player fatalities linked to practice activities is virtually unprecedented in college sports.

During the 2024 preseason practice, freshmen players including Dickey were subjected to more than 100 up-down calisthenics, despite warnings from other coaches that such activities were unsafe. Bucknell was aware of Dickey's medical condition but did not implement necessary precautions like having a trainer present or emergency action plans. Dickey’s parents filed a separate civil lawsuit alleging negligence and wrongful death, contending the training regimen was excessively harsh and improperly managed. Meanwhile, Kulbis, who left Bucknell in early 2025, denies all wrongdoing through his attorney.

Legal experts emphasize the rarity and complexity of this case, which relies on a 2017 Pennsylvania hazing statute meant to address fraternity hazing deaths but includes exceptions for reasonable athletic training. While some attorneys believe the prosecution will struggle to prove Kulbis’s actions qualify as criminal hazing given the athletic carve-out, others argue evidence suggests the workout far exceeded typical training standards, especially considering Dickey’s susceptibility. Both perspectives agree the case, regardless of outcome, may influence how coaches and universities approach player safety and hazing accountability moving forward.

If Kulbis is convicted and sentenced, the case could set a precedent encouraging more criminal charges in similar tragedies involving college athletes. The threat of such legal consequences may prompt coaches to reconsider training methods and heighten awareness of underlying health risks among student-athletes. This development reflects a growing societal intolerance for reckless behavior in sports training and signals increased scrutiny on coaching practices surrounding player well-being. Bucknell has expressed cooperation with the investigation but declined further comment due to pending litigation.