Bond was born in Painesville, Ohio, and grew up in the Morningside neighborhood in Pittsburgh.
He attended Central High School in Pittsburgh, where he competed for the school's football, baseball, and track teams.

In 1914, Bond enrolled at the University of Pittsburgh and played college football as a reserve guard in 1915 and 1916 for the Pittsburgh Panthers under head coach Glenn Scobey "Pop" Warner.
His college career was interrupted by military service during World War I. He was assigned to Camp Gordon, where he played for the camp's football team.
He was subsequently deployed with the 82nd Infantry Division to France where he was "wounded and gassed" at the Battle of Saint-Mihiel.

After several months recuperating, Bond returned to Pitt in August 1919.
The Pittsburgh Press reported on Bond's return as follows: "Jim Bond ... is another hero of the world war, and was injured in action in France.
He has entirely recovered from his wound, and will be with the Panthers this fall."
After the 1919 Pitt-West Virginia game, one sports columnist wrote: "Pop Warner did not have to waste much time in making a guard out of Bond, who looks like a find."
He played for Pitt's varsity football teams in 1919 and 1920, graduating in 1921.
Bond was born in Painesville, Ohio, and grew up in the Morningside neighborhood in Pittsburgh. He attended Central High School in Pittsburgh, where he competed for the school's football, baseball, and track teams.
In 1914, Bond enrolled at the University of Pittsburgh and played college football as a reserve guard in 1915 and 1916 for the Pittsburgh Panthers under head coach Glenn Scobey "Pop" Warner. His college career was interrupted by military service during World War I. He was assigned to Camp Gordon, where he played for the camp's football team. He was subsequently deployed with the 82nd Infantry Division to France where he was "wounded and gassed" at the Battle of Saint-Mihiel.
After several months recuperating, Bond returned to Pitt in August 1919. The Pittsburgh Press reported on Bond's return as follows: "Jim Bond ... is another hero of the world war, and was injured in action in France. He has entirely recovered from his wound, and will be with the Panthers this fall." After the 1919 Pitt-West Virginia game, one sports columnist wrote: "Pop Warner did not have to waste much time in making a guard out of Bond, who looks like a find." He played for Pitt's varsity football teams in 1919 and 1920, graduating in 1921.
James Bond (American football)