He served as the head football coach at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee from 1956 to 1959, compiling a record of 9–23.
Kraeft attended Marion High School in Marion, Wisconsin and then La Crosse State Teachers College—now known as the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse, where he played basketball and was a member of the championship team of 1930–31.
He initially held the rank of corporal and served with the infantry at Camp Fannin.
He then attended Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning and was commissioned as a second lieutenant.
[2] Kraeft was discharged from the military in the spring of 1946 and resumed coaching that fall when he was hired an assistant football coach and physical education instructor at Milwaukee State Teachers College—now known as University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee.