Jim began wrestling as a freshman at Willowbrook High School, graduating in 1974. Jim was a three- year letterman, a Regional Champion and a team captain his senior year. He also ran cross country and was named team captain his senior year. He then wrestled four years for Western Illinois University.  

Jim began his coaching career at Providence where he stayed for two years (1979-1980). He then took over the head coaching position at Hamilton, where he stayed for 6 years (1981-1986). His teams won two Regional titles and boasted 15 state qualifiers, eight state place winners and one state champion (Chad Gilpin, 1986). 

Jim took over the McMurray Head Coaching position where he stayed for three years (1987-1989). He coached two National Qualifiers, one earning All-American status. He then moved to the Illinois School for the Visually Impaired (ISVI), where he coached 26 years (1990-2016), mentoring one state qualifier. He was also the athletic director at ISVI. Upon retirement, Jim has been a volunteer coach for Augustana College for the past two years. 

Other sports Jim has coached include boys and girls tennis, cross-country, boys and girls track, boys and girls swimming, community baseball and soccer. 

Jim has also been an IHSA official for 41 years. He was a freestyle and Greco-Roman official for five years, officiating the University Games, state championships and the USA World Deaf Team trials held at ISD. 

Jim served as the Prairie State Games commissioner for two years. He was a member of the IHSA wrestling advisory committee for three years, was on the IHSA AD Hoc wrestling weight control committee, worked on the committee to recognize girls wrestling in Illinois and volunteered as a Midlands table worker for five years. 

Jim’s honors include the IWCOA “Friend of Wrestling” award in 1989 and the IWCOA “Lifetime Service to Wrestling” award in 2022. Also, he was named the IHSA Athletic Director of the Year while at ISVI.