Prior to joining the NFL, he officiated four years at the high school level, and a total of 19 years at the college level with four years at Division III, 11 years at Division II, and four years in the Big Ten Conference (Division I).
Before entering the NFL, he worked for four years at the high school level and officiated for a combined total of 19 years at the college level, including four years in Division III, eleven years in Division II, and four years in the Big Ten Conference (Division I).