Career
Helmer was elected to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Coach"s Hall of Fame in 2001. Helmer is known not only for his ability to produce both athletic and academic all-Americans, Helmer is considered by peers to be a true fair-play sportsman. This sense of fair play is reflected in the statement by McPherson College head coach Dave Smith concerning a chance that Helmer had to secure home-field advantage for the 2005 regional Cross Country meet.
"When I heard about the (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics region) realignment, I thought Jim (Helmer at Southwestern) would want to host the meet at his place.
But, when Jim called he said he was already hosting his own meet and the KCAC meet, and he didn’t feel right about hosting three meets on his course."
This sense of sportsmanship and fair play has appeared to "rub off" on the teams he coaches. One day at practice in 2002, an alleged shoplifting youth ran in to the Cross Country team
While attempting to make his escape, the team scattered and chased him down, turning him in to local police. Winfield High School
Helmer started his coaching career as the track and cross country coach at Winfield High School in Winfield, Kansas in 1971 and coached for seven years.
Southwestern College
In 1978 Helmer became the head Cross Country and Men"s Track & Field Coach at his Alma Mater.
Friends University stopped the streak in 2011 under head coach Brad Peterson. He also coached the Men"s Track & Field team to 29 consecutive conference crowns 1983-2011 after four straight second-place finishes. Helmer’s work has produced a total of seven National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics National Champions in men’s cross country and track.
81 of his athletes have earned National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics All-American status a total of 188 times, and 440 separate athletes have earned All-Conference status during his tenure.