Ex-Bucknell coach Kulbis bound for trial in player's death — SkimNews
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- Judge Jeffrey L. Mensch of the Union County Magisterial District Court ruled Friday that prosecutors have enough evidence for the case to proceed, scheduling trial to begin Nov. 2.
- Mark Kulbis, Bucknell's former strength and conditioning coach, faces felony aggravated hazing plus misdemeanor involuntary manslaughter, reckless endangerment, and hazing charges in the death of 18-year-old Calvin 'CJ' Dickey Jr., who collapsed during a July 2024 workout and died two days later.
- Montour County coroner Scott E. Lynn amended the death certificate in June to add 'stress-induced sickle cell crisis' and 'forced physical exertion' alongside the original finding of dilated cardiomyopathy complicated by rhabdomyolysis, testifying that 'someone else's actions caused this to occur.'
- Senior Deputy Attorney General Jaime Keating told the judge that Kulbis received training on hazing, sickle-cell trait, and rhabdo and was informed Dickey had tested positive for sickle-cell trait, yet 'ignored his education' and ran a 'punishment workout.'
- Former Bucknell athletic trainer Kaiti Hager testified she suspected Dickey was in a 'sickling crisis' when players rushed into her office reporting a collapse, and she administered oxygen while instructing Kulbis to call 911.
- Defense attorney Barbara Zemlock argued Pennsylvania's anti-hazing immunity provision should shield Kulbis because of the 911 call, but Judge Mensch ruled that immunity determination falls outside the scope of a preliminary hearing.
Why it matters: The Nov. 2 trial will test whether a college strength coach can be held criminally liable for a player's death during a workout, with prosecutors arguing Kulbis disregarded specific medical warnings about Dickey's sickle-cell trait. The coroner's amended cause of death — shifting from natural causes to include 'forced physical exertion' — directly links Kulbis's actions to the fatality, strengthening the involuntary manslaughter charge.
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