Former Atlanta Hawk Mike “The Stinger” Glenn To Speak At Claflin University

Former NBA star Mike “Stinger” Glenn will speak at Claflin University on Wednesday (September 14) at 1 p.m. in the Grace     T. Kennedy Business and Communications Building Auditorium.  Glenn’s presentation is part of the Dean’s Lecture Series hosted by the Claflin School of Business.  Admission is free and the public is invited.

Glenn played collegiately at Southern Illinois University where he earned All-Missouri Valley Conference honors.  He graduated in 1977 with a bachelors’ degree in mathematics and a minor in computer science.   He also attended graduate business classes at St. John’s University, Southern Illinois University and Baruch College.   Glenn played ten seasons (1977–1987) in the NBA as a member of the Buffalo Braves, New York Knicks, Atlanta Hawks, and Milwaukee Bucks.  In 1981 he received the NBA Walter P. Kennedy Citizenship Award.

“The goal of the Deans Lecture Series is to enhance the academic experience of Claflin students through a series of lectures presented by accomplished professionals,” said Dr. Charles Richardson, dean of the Claflin School of Business.  “These lectures will link the academic experience with current business issues and connect these issues with real life circumstances that the students presently face or will encounter as business professionals.”

In addition to his outstanding basketball career, Glenn is a successful author, entrepreneur, renowned speaker and basketball analyst.  He has worked at ESPN, the Atlanta Hawks, Fox SportSouth, TNT and CNN.

Glenn also stays connected to basketball through his All-Star Basketball Camp for the Deaf and the Hard of Hearing which in 2014 celebrated its 35th Anniversary.  This non-profit organization is the nation’s first basketball camp for hearing-challenged athletes and is offered every summer free of charge to as many as 120 deaf athletes across the country.  In 2010, Glenn was presented the Outstanding Contributor to Basketball Award by the Atlanta Tipoff Club for his dedication to hearing impaired athletes. 

Glenn made his acting debut in 2013 by playing himself in The Spirit of Love: The Mike Glenn Story, which is based on his experiences with deaf and hard of hearing athletes.  The movie won "Best Inspirational Movie of the Year" at the ICM Country Music Association Festival in Nashville, beating out "42", the biopic inspired by the life of Jackie Robinson.

Glenn is a collector of rare books and other publications by and about African Americans. He shares his artifacts through traveling exhibits and lectures.  Glenn has written four books that were inspired by his collection of rare documents.

He was selected to the All-Century team at Southern Illinois University and the Missouri Valley Conference Hall of Fame.  He is also a member of the board of directors for the National Basketball Retired Players Association (NBRPA). 

For more information contact the Office of Communications and Marketing or the Claflin School of Business (803-535-5200 / rlinder@claflin.edu).