Glenn "Abe" Martin began coaching at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale in 1939 after taking over the football program. Martin began as head coach in basketball in 1943 as well as being named Athletic Director of SIUC.
Martin led the basketball team to an NAIA Championship in 1946, with a perfect 32-0 record. In 1947, he led the SIUC football team to the Corn Bowl, where it beat North Central College.
Martin revived SIUC's baseball team in 1947, and after 19 seasons garnered 275 wins, 118 losses and six conference titles, five of which were consecutive. He led SIUC to its first 20-win season (26-8) in 1959, and to two NAIA Tournaments. Martin's teams also made back-to-back NCAA Mideast Regional appearances in 1964-65.
Martin accepted the position as head of the Intramural Sports Department in 1958, where he remained until his retirement in June 1965. Under Martin's direction, the Intramural Department expanded from softball and basketball, to encouraging students to participate in flag football, golf, tennis, bowling, badminton, wrestling, swimming and others.
Southern Illinois named its baseball field, Abe Martin Field, in his honor in 1972.
Martin was a charter member of SIU's Sports Hall of Fame (1978) and a member of the Helms Basketball Hall of Fame.
