He played football at Beloit College and the University of Illinois and was selected as an all-state player at the end position in 1909.

Vehmeier served as the head football coach at the University of North Dakota in 1912, compiling a record of 1–4.

[1][2] He was a native of Dakota and attended high school in Dixon,[3] before playing college football at Beloit for two years.

[12] In October 1912, Vehmeier was named head football coach at the University of North Dakota (UND) in Grand Forks.

"[15][16] North Dakota lost their opener, against Hamline,[17] but were reported as getting "stronger each day" under Vehmeier's stiff practices.

[18][19] However, when North Dakota played their next game, they lost by 35 to Carleton, although a report from the Grand Forks Herald the next day stated that it was not Vehmeier's fault, writing "Ten million Vehmeier's [sic] could not have made North Dakota play Saturday.

Their attack was anaemic, weak and thin, and when they were guarding the yearned-for goal line, they were as feeble as a centenarian with the palsy.

[17] A news report said that, "If the football rules can be so amended that Coach Vehmeier may be permitted to walk up and down the side lines, driving the university team with vitriolic words, there would be no doubt that the pink and green warriors would emerge from the contest victorious.

But the football rules committee does not like that kind of playing, and consequently Mr. Vehmeier will have to be content with dragging his body up and down the field, biting savagely at the end of a big, black cigar.

He ... gradually whipped the team into shape, and by the time of the [North Dakota Agricultural] game could well be proud of his efforts.