Jeff is a product of Barberton Little League where he was an All-Star for 5 years. He played for Barberton High school as a 3-year Varsity player who was All-League/Northeast Ohio for 2 years and one year was All-State. 

For his successes as a player and coach, he was inducted into Barberton Sports Hall of Fame. He was head coach or assistant high school coach for Norton, Barberton, Wadsworth and Copley compiling 179 wins and 99 losses as a head coach. 

He played adult baseball for Copley VFW and many Roy Hobbs teams, including the powerful White Sox.