Jim Ganley grew up in Southern Maryland.  He played basketball at LaPlata High School, he earned All-SMAC recognition while leading the team in scoring as a senior.  Ganley continued his playing career at CSM, where he served as team captain during his sophomore season.  He was named All Tournament Team MVP at the Essex Slam-Jam Holiday Tournament. Ganley was a finalist in the Maryland JUCO Slam Dunk Contest and Runner-up in the MD JUCO Three-Point Contest. He transferred to Coastal Carolina University (SC), where he made the Big-South All-Academic team as a junior.  As a senior, Ganley was a member of  the 2000 National Championship "Warpack" Flag Football team earning All-American Honors at Wide Receiver.

Coach Ganley served as a Head Junior Varsity coach during the 1999-2000 season at Carolina Forest High school (SC) and Assistant Varsity Coach at Aynor High School (SC) in 2000-2001.  He coached John Hanson Middle School boy's basketball during 2001-2003 in Waldorf, MD. 

He is active coordinating Summer Youth camps, and supervising sports camps at CSM during the summer.  Ganley is currently teaching physical education at Mechanicsville Elementary School in St. Mary's County, MD.