After graduating from Babylon High School in 1988, Jim came to Dowling College to study aeronautics. Jim began rowing that fall for Dowling without having any rowing experience in high school. 1988 was the inaugural year for Dowling crew, and also served as a turning point in Jim’s life. Dowling College has had a crew program since the 1970’s, but after a break of several years, Jim helped to rescue the program by his commitment to turn rowing from a social club to pursuing excellence in the water. He had seen signs on campus mentioning that the crew team was being reformed and he signed up and started practicing. The hard work soon paid off as he rowed well enough to make the “A” boat, which made it to the finals of the Dad Vail Regatta in the novice division. During his final two years at Dowling, Jim was part of the varsity squad and rowed for the varsity four boat. He served as captain of the crew team from 1990-92 and was honored as MVP in 1992.

It was also in 1992 that he was hired as an assistant coach in charge of novice development. He was also offered a graduate assistantship position at Dowling College. Two years later, Jim became the head coach of the crew team at the young age of 23, a position he held as recently as last year. As head coach, he guided the team to winning the national championships of the Dad Vail Regatta in both the heavyweight and lightweight four’s. Other coaching highlights include winning the Dowling Alumni Cup three straight years from 1994-96, the lightweight eight course at the Head of Ohio in 1997, the New York State Championship in men’s varsity four in 1998, and the men’s lightweight and heavyweight four at the Dad Vails in last year.

In 1995, Jim entered the Empire State Games representing Long Island, where he won two gold medals in the men’s eight and men’s four 1500 meter sprints. Jim is also the President and founder of the Connetquot River Rowing Association.

Jim has said that rowing gives him structure. As head coach, he began to build plans and goals for the crew team to continue its growth. The program began to fundraise, buy equipment, improve the schedule, offer athletic aid and recruit experienced rowers.

After spending a few years at Touro Law School as the Director of Admissions, Jim is now starting a new career as a high school teacher in Smithtown

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