Saluki Basketball Hall of Famer Mike “Stinger” Glenn will have his jersey retired at halftime during the men’s basketball game against Murray State on February 6 at Banterra Center in Carbondale, Illinois.
“Mike Glenn is the epitome of what it means to be a Saluki,” said SIU Director of Athletics Tim Leonard. “He excelled on the court and in the classroom. His legacy extends far beyond basketball, and we’re thrilled to welcome him back to the Banterra Center for this momentous occasion.”
Glenn’s jersey will become only the second retired by Saluki Basketball, joining Amy Rakers. Three numbers have previously been retired: Charlie “Chico” Vaughn (No. 20), NBA Hall of Famer Walt Frazier (No. 52), and women’s basketball standout Sue Faber (No. 44).
“It will be magical for the rest of my life,” Glenn said. “Something that I’ll always be proud of is that this is what I did at my university that meant so much to me. I’ll always treasure that and remember that forever.”
During his college career, Glenn scored 1,878 points, making him fourth on Southern Illinois University’s all-time scoring list. He was part of the team that won the Missouri Valley Conference title in 1976–77 and reached the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16. Glenn was a two-time first-team Academic All-American and earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics.
After being selected by the Chicago Bulls in the second round of the 1977 NBA Draft, Glenn played professionally for teams including the Buffalo Braves, New York Knicks, Atlanta Hawks, and Milwaukee Bucks over a ten-year career before moving into sports broadcasting and writing.
In addition to his athletic achievements, Glenn founded a summer basketball camp for deaf and hard-of-hearing athletes in 1980; it has now operated for more than four decades.
Recently, SIU’s Morris Library Special Collections hosted Glenn as part of its Freedom to Freedom celebration. He was introduced by historian Rosemary Sadlier, who helped establish Canada’s Black History Month and Emancipation Day. At this event, Glenn shared lessons from his collection of rare African American books and memorabilia.
Fans can follow updates about Saluki Basketball at SIUSalukis.com or through their social media channels.
