Jim played in two state high school baseball tournaments and helped his team to the state championship game his senior year. He was recognized with All-Conference, All-District and All-State honors in baseball.
He went on to play baseball at Grand View University where he earned All-District, All-Area 4 (Midwest Region) and All-American honors. He played in two College World Series and holds school records for total bases in a career and most games played as a catcher in a season and in a career. He was inducted into the Grand View University Hall of fame in 2011.
He served as a professional Baseball scout for the Chicago Cubs and as a baseball coach at Johnson County Community College in Overland Park, Kansas, at the University of Northern Iowa, and at Dowling Catholic.
Jim currently serves as the assistant baseball coach at Grand View University and is the owner and lead instructor at Grand Slam USA, an indoor baseball and softball training facility. During his tenure at Grand View his teams have made five national tournament appearances and he has coached or instructed more than 40 players who have signed professional baseball contracts. He resides in Urbandale, Iowa, with his wife Margaret and their children, Abby, Megan and Amanda.
During his time at DCHS he really enjoyed getting to know new students every year who came from different parochial schools and the faith-based learning environment which was very important to him. He is always proud to tell people he is a graduate of Dowling Catholic High School.