Jim was a 1945 high school graduate in Akron, Ohio. He went to Oberlin College. He got his masters at the University of Illinois.
Upon receiving his master’s degree he took a math and PE job at Pekin H.S. where he was an under level coach for 6 years (1952-1957).
He was a friend of Bob Tunnicliff who convinced him to take a Math/PE job at Libertyville for the 1957-1958 school year.
His first year he was an under level coach in football and baseball. He took over the varsity baseball head coach position for the 1959 season. He stayed in that position for 12 years. His head coaching record was 105-99, winning three conference titles (1963, 1964, 1968) and one district title (1970).
For the 1971 school year we had our first pool built and needed a head coach and swim program instructor. Despite no experience in coaching swimming, Jim accepted Mr. Tunnicliff’s request to give up his baseball coaching position and begin our swim program, both the team and youth program.
Jim stayed in the head swim coaching position for 12 years (1971-1983), finishing with a 85-29 head coaching record, winning 4 conference championships (1979, 1980, 1981, 1982).
Jim was an under level football coach, for 14 years first on the freshmen staff before moving to the sophomore level (1958-1972).
He did not coach his last four years at LHS, retiring after the 1987 school years, 30 years of teaching at LHS, 25 years of coaching.
