Emmet Anderson, Special to The Denisonian

Coach Phil Torrens devoted his life to the Big Red Cross Country programs. He was a coach, a mentor, a teacher, and a friend. Coach T, as he was known familiarly, passed away on January 15, 2023, at the age of 76. 

“You could always know he’s there,” said Declan Toomey ‘25. “Just always there to ask you how your day was. He would wait for our runs, which would take forty or fifty, or even sixty minutes, and he would always be there, ready to just ask you how your day was. He would give up his time just to sit there and check in. So it meant a lot to us to just come back from a run, however our day went, however our run went, and he was always just there, ready to just engage with us and be a presence for the team.”

Torrens was the longest-tenured athletic coach at Denison. He was hired in 1979 as the head coach of the Men’s Cross Country team and an assistant on the Track & Field team. He would go on to take over the Women’s Cross Country program as well up until the 2016 season, wherein he passed the torch of both teams to current head coach Mark FitzPatrick. Torrens remained with the team as a volunteer coach up until his passing.

“He did a lot of little things behind the scenes that kept him involved,” said Will Allain ‘25.  “He was a volunteer coach so he didn’t even get paid for this. He literally just came every day because it was his life’s work. He just loved to be at practice. It made him feel young. It made him feel part of something.”

Torrens was a perennial winner. In his time as head coach, he guided the Men’s cross country team to four NCAC conference championships (1990-1992, 1998) and the Women’s team to six (1998-2000, 2003-2005).

Tomas Brockett-Delgado, ‘25, let out a soft smile as he reflected on Torrens’ impact. “He had a very hard-working mentality. He was always the kind of guy that didn’t let his age hold him down. He always pulled up to work in that big truck with the water jug and stuff. Always looking out for us,” said Brockett-Delgado.

“One time he actually had to drive me back because I couldn’t run,” said Nate Bertman ‘25, holding back tears. “I couldn’t run that day after I went out there and he gave me a ride back. That really meant a lot. He was always there. He was just steady and consistent and he meant a lot to the team.”

Whether he be remembered for his truck, his chair, his love of football, or the loudness with which he would yell “GO!” to start off workouts, Torrens was a rock in Denison’s running community. His presence will be missed by the team. 

“We want to run this coming track season and the following cross country season in his honor and do it for him. We want to make him proud,” said Cross Country captain Will Cunningham ‘24. “We want to compete to the highest level and do our best. That would truly honor his legacy.”