Tom began his wrestling career at Thornton High School under the guidance of Hall of Fame coaches Ted Czech and Jack Robinson. A state qualifier on Thornton's 1959 State Championship Team, Tom enrolled at the University of Illinois where he earned a varsity letter. He transferred to Indiana State University, Where he became a two-time NAIA All-American and was named team captain and voted most valuable his senior year. Tom began his coaching career as an assistant at Prospect High School. He then moved to Arlington Heights Hersey High School as the head coach when the school opened. At Hersey, he guided eight state place-winners - three of them state champions. His teams won three conference championships, three District championships and the State Title in 1971 and 1972. Tom was named Coach of the Year in 1971. During his early coaching years, he also wrestled for the Mayor Daley Wrestling Club. He left Hersey to become the head coach at the University of Illinois in 1973, where he remained for five years. There he had nine National Qualifiers. Tom Left his coaching position to become the University's Assistant Director of Athletics in charge of sales, promotions and summer camps. Following his retirement from the University, Tom became an assistant wrestling coach at Mahomet-Seymour Junior High School in 2001. He took over as head coach at Mahomet-Seymour High School, leading the Bulldogs to a fourth-place State finish in 2002 and eighth in 2003. In 2004, Tom Started the first IESA wrestling program for Champaign School District. Tom was inducted into the IWCOA Hall of Fame and has been Grand Marshal at the Individual State Wrestling Championships.