Jim did diving from 1967-70 and won four Big Ten championships, five NCAA titles and 10 AAU indoor and outdoor championships on the one and three meter boards. He is regarded as the best one meter diver of all time and won 10 straight NCAA and AAU national championships on that board. He won a bronze medal in the 1968 Olympic Games and in 1969 was ranked as the No. 1 springboard diver in the world.