Hall of Fame
Jim is a graduate of Victor HS and Ithaca College. He is very proud of many professional accomplishments and contributions he made at the local level during his 27 years as an athletic administrator at Greece Arcadia High School (7 years) and Fairport High School (20 years). While at Greece he reinstituted the Athletic Hall of Fame that had been inactive for over 10 years. With his Greece colleagues they expanded competition in girls’ sports by fielding the first Modified A level teams (soccer, basketball & softball) in the MCPSAC. He successfully de-merged and established a wrestling team/program at Arcadia – one of the few de-mergers we’ve had in Section V. While at Fairport, he was able to add varsity and sub-varsity teams in the sports of girls lacrosse, girls golf and girls & boys bowling to complete one of the most comprehensive athletic programs in New York and provide increased participation opportunities for both genders. He promoted athletic participation that was inclusive for all his students, exemplified by Fairport being one of the initial league members to field a UNIFIED Basketball team, the large number of Fairport special needs student-athletes competing in the MCPSAC Special Olympics Track & Field Meet and a blind cross-country runner who competed at the Modified, JV & Varsity levels. He worked in conjunction with the NY State Education Department to get an approved Coaches’ First Aid & CPR/AED course that could be taught in Fairport. He fostered and maintained a strong community- school partnership with the Town of Perinton Parks & Recreation Department, as well as youth sports groups in the community to promote all types of activity while instituting a cooperative system that provided equitable access to school facilities for all groups. He was instrumental in the development, planning and finalization of multiple district athletic facility improvements (gyms, pools, fitness centers, locker rooms, field renovations) highlighted by the construction of a new stadium with multipurpose artificial surface and lights (lights were a controversial issue in the community for over 40 years).
Throughout his career Jim has been an active leader in Section V. He has served (and still is a member) on the Executive Committee for 21 years and was the Section V rep to the NYSPHSAA Executive Committee for 13 years before being elected Section V President. During his time as President he led a complete review of our championship policies and procedures inclusive of a section-wide professional survey which in turn was used to create the “Championship Philosophy” document by which our tournaments are conducted today. He has initiated and supported plans that have been implemented to provide gender equity as well as equity across sports within the same gender.
In June of 2007 Jim experienced a life-changing event: one week after their graduation, five Fairport HS graduates were tragically killed in a car accident. In the days that followed this horrible accident, Jim and many of his colleagues supported the kids and adults of Fairport as they strived to cope with this tragedy. This was Jim’s “defining moment” as everything associated with this “tragedy” highlighted the importance of the community-school connection and confirmed his belief that a school’s athletic program is the glue that holds a school community together in the best of times, as well as in its darkest moments.
Jim has been honored with the NYSAHPERD Zone Honor Award (2008); Chapter 5, Athletic Administrator of the Year Award (2011). SAANYS Region 11, Administrator of the Year Award (2011); Fairport HS, “Brotherhood-Sisterhood Week” Family Talk Guest Speaker (2008); Fairport HS, “Jim Zumbo Red Raider Award” and recently was inducted into the NYSAAA Hall of Fame (2019).
Jim lives in Fairport with Rene, his wife. They have 3 adult children. ?