Hall of Fame
A native of Medellin, Colombia and a product of Dickinson (Texas) High School, Johnny Torres rose from humble beginnings to become arguably the greatest soccer star in Creighton and Missouri Valley Conference history.
A high-scoring forward for the Bluejays from 1994 to 1997, Torres earned all-conference honors three times, received two-time, first-team All-America laurels and landed MVC Player of the Year plaudits in 1997.
When he ended his collegiate career, he was The Valley’s all-time scoring (128 points) and assists (36) leader. He still ranks in the Creighton career top-five for points, goals, assists and shots on goal.
In 1997, Torres won both the Hermann Trophy and the Missouri Athletic Club Award (prior to the combination of the awards), recognizing him as the National Player of the Year. In 1996, he earned National Player of the Year honors from Soccer America after leading the Jays to their first College Cup appearance.
Active in service throughout his collegiate and professional playing days, Torres visited thousands of youth in the Omaha community in the 1990s and was tabbed the Children’s Miracle Network National “Hometown Hero” in 1996. Having earned his U.S. Citizenship just days before, he was honored by the Omaha City Council with “Johnny Torres Day” on Oct. 27, 1996, for his community service and soccer skills.
A member of the Creighton Athletics Hall of Fame, Torres was the fifth overall pick in the first round of the 1998 MLS Draft by the New England Revolution. He played for the Revolution for four seasons and also played for the Miami Fusion and the Chicago Fire of Major League Soccer, before continuing his career in the USL for the Minnesota Thunder and the Milwaukee Wave United and finishing his career in indoor soccer with the Milwaukee Wave.
He returned to the Creighton campus in the fall of 2007 to complete his bachelor’s degree. After collecting the NCAA Degree Completion Award, he received his degree in social work from CU in the spring of 2008.