Vernon Kiehl

Assistant Coach

Boys Varsity Track

Vern Kiehl joined the Pioneer HS Track and Field staff in 2018, as an assistant coach, specializing in hurdles.

Kiehl competed in hurdles and pole vault in high school and at Defiance College, in Defiance, Ohio.

He comes to Pioneer from Northwest Ohio, where his Track and Field coaching career began in the spring of 1981, as an assistant at Cardinal Stritch High School.  In 1986, he became the Head Coach at Perrysburg High School, in Perrysburg, Ohio.

During his tenure at Perrysburg, he was a 9 time Northern Lakes League Coach of the Year and amassed over 300 victories.

Vern has also been a member of the Ohio Association of Track and Cross Country Coaches, joining the organization in 2000.  He has served OATCCC as a District Representative, Vice President and President.

In addition to his work with OATCCC, Vern has served on the Ohio High School Athletic Association Track and Field Advisory Board, as well as the OHSAA State Track and Field Games Committee and the Ohio State Track and Field Advisory Board.

In 2011, Kiehl received the OHSAA’s Sportsmanship, Ethics and Integrity Award for his unwavering commitment to good sportsmanship, high level of ethics and integrity in carrying out his responsibilities as a coach.

In 2015, Kiehl was honored to receive the OATCCC Ed Barker Award, their highest award, for his contributions to Cross Country and Track and Field in Ohio.

In addition to Track and Field, Vern has coached Cross Country, Varsity and Freshman Football, as well as Girls’ Basketball.  He has also been a Track and Field official since 1990.

Vern retired from teaching at Perrysburg High School in 2013, but has continued to coach since his retirement.

He lives with his wife, Kathy in Saline.