Gene Henley

Gene has covered sports in the Chattanooga area since 2008 and has ascended from covering preps to colleges in his time. He primarily covers UTC athletics, a job he's held from 2013-18 and again since 2020, having spent two seasons covering Tennessee pre-pandemic. Gene played four seasons of college basketball and has a 20-year son named Judah who plays at Central Missouri in Warrensburg, Missouri.

Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com.

Subscriber Exclusive

Baylor senior Sloan Proffitt helps Lady Red Raiders add another tennis title

by Gene Henley ·May 13, 2026

In the space of just a moment, all the reflection happened for Baylor School senior tennis player Sloan Proffitt.

Staff photo by Larry Sullivan II / Baylor's Peyton Standifer eyes the ball as she swings during the No. 4 singles match in the TSSAA Division II-AA girls' tennis team final against GPS on Wednesday at the Champions Club.

Subscriber Exclusive

Baylor boys’ tennis team cruises to repeat as DII-AA team champion

by Gene Henley ·May 13, 2026

It was just a year ago that the Baylor School boys' tennis program was ending a team state title drought by winning the TSSAA Division II-AA championship.

Staff photo by Matt Hamilton / The Baylor boys' tennis team celebrates after beating McCallie in the TSSAA Division II-AA championship match Wednesday at the Champions Club. The Red Raiders, who beat the rival Blue Tornado in the final for the second year in a row, won 4-1 while breaking the record for most team state titles in boys' tennis, with this their 17th overall dating to 1971.

Subscriber Exclusive

UTC notebook: Sydney Johnson promoted to assistant for women’s basketball

by Gene Henley ·May 13, 2026

UTC women's basketball coach Deandra Schirmer rounded out her staff for the 2026-27 season with the promotion of Sydney Johnson to assistant coach this week.

UTC photo by Ray Soldano / Sydney Johnson, who was a graduate assistant last season during her first year on the UTC women's basketball staff, has been promoted to assistant coach.

Subscriber Exclusive

Baylor, McCallie tennis to meet for title for third consecutive time

by Gene Henley ·May 12, 2026

McCallie head tennis coach Jeff Clark believes his team's best tennis "is still out there."

Staff photo by Larry Sullivan II/McCallie's Michael Wang reaches to hit the tennis ball during the Spring Fling at the Champion's Club Tennis Facility on May 12, 2026.

Subscriber Exclusive

Baylor, GPS to meet in Division II-AA tennis final

by Gene Henley ·May 12, 2026

Every season from 2010-14, and then again in 2017 and 2018, the Baylor and GPS tennis teams competed to decide the TSSAA Division II-AA state team title.

Staff Photo by Seth Carpenter/ Signal Mountain's Savannah Cummins goes to strike the ball during a TSSAA Class A Girls' Tennis Championship match against Merrol Hyde on Tuesday, May 12, 2026.

Subscriber Exclusive

Chattanooga tennis welcomes back Spring Fling

by Gene Henley ·May 11, 2026

For over 20 years Chattanooga-area tennis teams would pack up their equipment on a Monday and make the trek out of town for the state prep tennis championships.

Staff file photo / Baylor head tennis coach Ned Caswell is glad to see the state tournament return to Chattanooga. The boys' and girls' tennis portion of the annual Spring Fling will be played at the Champions Club.

UTC’s run in SoCon softball tourney ends one win short of title round

by Gene Henley ·May 9, 2026

Frank Reed's UTC softball teams have worn many different hats entering SoCon tournaments during his 25 years as head coach of the Mocs.

Staff photo by Larry Sullivan II / Members of the UTC softball team cheer as Anna Dovey heads down the third-base line to the plate after hitting a home run against Furman at Frost Stadium on Thursday, the first day of the SoCon tournament. The fifth-seeded Mocs wound up being one of the final three teams remaining in the eight-team event but were eliminated with an 8-6 loss Saturday to second-seeded Samford.

Mocs rally to upset Western Carolina, keep SoCon title hopes alive

by Gene Henley ·May 8, 2026

The UTC softball team found itself reeling some Friday at Frost Stadium while facing elimination on the second day of the SoCon tournament.

Staff photo by Larry Sullivan II / UTC's Raven Jones (4) dances on second base after hitting a double against Furman during the opening game of the SoCon tournament Thursday. After going 1-1 on the first day of the eight-team event, the fifth-seeded Mocs won their lone game Friday, beating third-seeded Western Carolina to avoid elimination.

Mocs split on first day of SoCon softball tourney, will face elimination Friday

by Gene Henley ·May 7, 2026

After a week marked by morning and midday starts, the UTC softball team's 2026 season will hinge on its ability to play late at night.

Staff photo by Larry Sullivan II / The UTC softball team celebrates in its dugout after Anna Dovey (15) hit a home run against Furman in the fifth inning during the opening game of the SoCon tournament Thursday at Frost Stadium. The Mocs beat Furman 10-3 to advance to the double-elimination portion of the eight-team bracket.

UTC men learn NCAA golf regional site; SoCon softball tourney pushed back

by Gene Henley ·May 6, 2026

The UTC men's golf team will be on Texas time later this month when the NCAA postseason begins with regional tournaments.