Kraemer to reduce role with RHS track program

Aaron Kraemer is taking a lesser role with the Rhinelander High School track program this coming spring. 

Kraemer, who has led the program since 2019, will scale back to a volunteer assistant’s role on an interim basis while Rod Olson will be promoted to interim head boys’ coach. 

Recent health concerns for Kraemer prompted the move, which was outlined by RHS activities director  Brian Paulson in an email to the track coaching staff Jan. 29.

“Coach (Kraemer) will take a year off to focus on getting back to full health,” Paulson wrote in the email, a copy of which was obtained by the River News. “Rod Olson will be the interim coach for the boys team for this 2026 Spring Season. Coach Kraemer might be around when he can be but that is just because he loves the kids and appreciates the coaching staff. At this time it is best if he is away from the day to day head coaching demands.”

Kraemer, who is also the head coach of the RHS football team, began feeling under the weather midway through the football season and was briefly hospitalized in November due to complications from an infection, which prompted the RHS football team’s banquet to be postponed into December. 

Speaking with the River News last Wednesday, Kraemer said he intends for this to be just a minor setback and that the move would not affect his status as head coach of the Hodag football team.

“I want everybody to know that this is an interim thing. I want to coach track and field and I love coaching track and field,” he said. “Right now I’m on the path to recovery, and my doctors are hopeful that I’m going to make a full recovery, which is good. But right now, the most important thing for me is that I can take care of my health and be here for my daughter and my wife.

“I know that — and my wife knows this — that it would take a monumental thing for me to be away from football and to step away from football,” Kraemer added. “And that’s not even in my mindset. We’re continuing to prepare football the same way we normally do. Our coaches have been fantastic. Our coaching staff’s ready for next year. We’re meeting already. And the plans are moving forward and things are getting better.”

Under Kraemer’s guidance, the Hodag track team has grown in numbers and have experience unprecedented levels of success. The Hodag boys’ team won the Great Northern Conference title in his first season as head coach back in 2019 — the first time it had won conference since 1967. The Hodag boys subsequently won conference in 2022 and 2025, and were WIAA regional champions a year ago. Meanwhile, the Hodag girls’ team won its first ever conference title last year.

Andy Wyss, who was brought on last year to oversee the girls’ program, will remain in that role while helping all athletes in sprints and horizontal jumps. 

Olson, who has served as the team’s hurdles coach the past several seasons, will begin his second stint at the helm of the boys’ program. He was the head coach of both teams in 2012 and 2013. The Hodags had three athletes make it to state under his leadership — Taylor Bruhl (nee Wissbroecker) in high jump, Vince Berry in pole vault and Ryan Nehls in the 100-meter dash.

“Coach Olson stepping in, in my stead, he’s already been a head coach before — head coach of the track program. He is now (the head coach) of the Alpine team. And he’s going to do a fantastic job in my stead,” Kraemer said. 

Kraemer has focused on throws the past couple of seasons for the Hodags. One of his former throwers, Brock Snyder, will take the lead with that group. Kraemer said he plans to be around to assist Synder on a volunteer basis, as his health allows.

“I felt like if I couldn’t be there 100%, that I ought to be a volunteer and somebody should take my salary,” Kraemer said. “And so that’s exactly what they’re doing. That gives me the flexibility to step away when I need to, but I’m going to volunteer. I’m going to coach throws, and I’ll be at practice as much as I possibly can, but if there is a bad day — and sometimes there are — then I have the freedom to walk away and go home and take care of myself. 

“I feel really, really comfortable with where we’re at right now as a coaching staff. And that’s not a knock to who was coaching five years ago. It’s just where I was as a coach, not willing to give the reins up. But our coaches are gonna do a fantastic job in my stead. So I’m excited.”

Practice for the Hodag track team will begin Monday, March 9. 

Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].