Jim, a two-sport athlete at Otterbein, earned All-Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) honors seven times, four in football and three in baseball. He was named to the Kodak All-America first team as a place-kicker in 1982, breaking all but one of the school kicking records. He still holds the school career record for most field goals, 27, and shares the single-game record of field goals made, with four.

Jim was also outstanding on the diamond, leading the team in hitting for three seasons, and in home runs for one season. He hit .500 at the College World Series in 1983— Otterbein finished second in the nation—and was named to the all-tournament team. Jim was a two-time baseball All-American. He batted a career .359 and ranks seventh on the Otterbein all-time list.