The WIAA family is saddened by the loss of former Associate Director Don Herrmann, who passed away Monday, Sept. 5, at the age of 84.
Herrmann served 25 years in the executive office, retiring on Aug. 1, 1998. He joined the staff in July 1973 as an assistant to the director, replacing Les Ansorge. He assumed the duties for tournament planning and rule responsibilities for the sports of football, wrestling, tennis, softball and hockey.
Herrmann later added sports medicine responsibilities and was instrumental in development of the first wrestling minimum weight program in the nation, which implemented guidelines and restrictions for weight loss.
“In the minds of many–especially in Wisconsin’s wrestling circle and beyond–Don's pioneering of the wrestling minimum weight program, the first in the nation, will be one of his most enduring legacies,” WIAA Executive Director Dave Anderson said. “Don was not only an extraordinary thinker and ‘doer’ in his own right, but he was also very willing to look at other ideas and incorporate them into his own efforts as he strove to develop the best possible climate for student athletes.”
In 1992, he was promoted to associate director and added coaches education and AODA workshops to his responsibilities.
During his service with the WIAA, he was a member of the National Federation of State High School Association rules committees in football, wrestling, softball and hockey. He was elected to the chairman position of the hockey and softball committees, as well as the NFHS Sports Medicine Advisory and Football Officials Manual Committees. In addition to his work on committees on the national level, he served as liaison to the Wisconsin Athletic Trainers Association and coordinated the TARGET Team.
In recognition of his dedication to high school sports, Herrmann was inducted into the George Martin Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1981 and was enshrined into the Wisconsin Football Coaches Hall of Fame in 1997.
The Chicago native graduated from Minocqua High School and attended the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. He participated in football, track & field and wrestling and graduated with an undergraduate degree in 1955. He was inducted into the university’s Hall of Fame in 1995.
Herrmann taught on the faculty at Wittenberg, Wis., for one year and at Oconto, Wis., for four years before enrolling in graduate work at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and teaching part-time in Madison and Middleton. He joined the UW physical education department in 1965 and became the head of the American College of Sports Medicine. Herrmann also officiated football and wrestling and served as a rules interpreter in wrestling prior to joining the WIAA staff.
Family and friends may visit at Cress Funeral Home located at 3610 Speedway Road in Madison Wednesday, Sept. 14 from 5 p.m. until the time of Celebration of Life Service at 7 p.m.