Glass was a standout quarterback in Corpus Christi, Texas, and played in the 1947 Oil Bowl alongside Hayden Fry.
After three seasons as assistant, he spent one year as head coach, guiding the Vikings to a 8–0–1 record before falling in the Junior Rose Bowl.
Glass then left Del Mar to serve as an assistant coach under John Bridgers at Baylor University from 1960 to 1962.
Glass also helped Lamar win SLC titles in 1965 and 1966, which gave the Cardinals three straight conference championships.
In September 2009, Bart Simmons, a Lamar University alumnus, donated $200,000 to create a football practice facility, the "Coach Vernon Glass Field of Champions".