Coach Sherl has been a part of the Zebra baseball program for three years. He helped lead the zebras to a state championship in 2005. Jim graduated from Tulsa Webster High School and later attended Carl Albert State College where he played baseball for two seasons. After 2 years at Carl Albert he finished his degree at Langston University. Coach Sherl began his coaching career at Tulsa Webster where he stayed for three years before coming to Claremore. He has been an American Legion coach for four years.

Jim and his wife April have three boys, Brooks, Gannon, and Nolan.