 Born in the Westmorland district of Madison, Wisconsin, he graduated from Madison West High School in 1966, where he was an all-state running back and track and field standout.His state record in shot put of in 1966 stood for 39 years.He accepted a football scholarship to the University of Wisconsin–Madison and was a star halfback and tight end on some of the worst teams in Badger history, which won just three games in his three varsity years of 1967–1969, all in his senior season.