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.

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Mocs softball team ready to host SoCon tourney

by Gene Henley ·May 5, 2026

Sometimes, veteran University of Tennessee at Chattanooga softball coach Frank Reed wonders if it's time to put a bow on a legendary career.

UTC photo by Ray Soldano/University of Tennessee at Chattanooga senior and former Ringgold standout Baileigh Pitts fields a grounder in warmups before a recent game. Pitts and the Mocs host the Southern Conference tournament this week, facing Furman Wednesday morning at Frost Stadium.

Mocs hoops continues to add with Pepperdine transfer big man

by Gene Henley ·May 4, 2026

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga men's basketball team continued to add to its 2026-27 roster over the weekend with the commitment of Yonatan Levy, a 6-foot-10 forward transferring in from Pepperdine.

Contributed photo/ Pepperdine center Yonatan Levy is joining the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga after the 6-10 center announced his commitment over the weekend.

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UTC pitcher Taylor Long moves up record books as her career winds down

by Gene Henley ·May 1, 2026

Taylor Long's years playing softball for UTC have educated the former Sonoraville High School standout about more than her sport of choice.

UTC photo by Ray Soldano / UTC senior pitcher Taylor Long, a former Sonoraville High School standout from Calhoun, Ga., recently became the sixth pitcher in program history with 500 strikeouts in her Mocs career.

UTC beach volleyball program prepares for third NCAA tourney trip

by Gene Henley ·April 29, 2026

For the third year in a row, the UTC beach volleyball program's season will end in Gulf Shores, Alabama.

UTC photo by Ray Soldano / UTC's beach volleyball program, the Ohio Valley Conference regular-season and tournament champion, is in the NCAA tournament for the third year in a row. The Mocs will face top-ranked Stanford on Friday in Gulf Shores, Ala.

Mocs basketball adds JuCo All-American

by Gene Henley ·April 28, 2026

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga men's basketball team picked up a commitment Tuesday from Matt Hampton, a 6-foot-5 guard who most recently played at Three Rivers Community College.

Contributed photo/Three Rivers Community College guard Matt Hampton goes up for a shot in a 2026 game in the National Junior College Athletic Association tournament. The 6-foot-5 Hampton recently committed to play for the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

UTC women add Georgia State transfer; men’s team adds freshman guard

by Gene Henley ·April 27, 2026

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga men's basketball team picked up a commitment Monday from guard Christian Matos, a 6-foot-3 incoming freshman from Philadelphia.

Contributed photo/The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga women's basketball team signed Georgia State transfer guard Gabbie Grooms out of the portal, becoming the third addition for 2026-27.

UTC golf notebook: Woodruff won’t return as women’s coach

by Gene Henley ·April 27, 2026

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga will officially begin its search for a new women's golf coach, after announcing interim Katie Woodruff will not return for the 2026-27 season.

Contributed photo/University of Tennessee at Chattanooga interim women's golf coach Katie Woodruff will not return next season.

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UTC offense has intriguing addition in Will Jackson-Linkhart

by Gene Henley ·April 25, 2026

Division II transfer with big fram, NFL potential brings versatility to Mocs

Staff photo by Matt Hamilton / Will Jackson-Linkhart, who joined the UTC football program earlier this year as a graduate transfer from Division II's Tiffin University, looks for running room after making a catch during the April 18 spring game at Scrappy Moore Field. The Mocs expect to use the 6-foot-5, 237-pounder at both tight end and wide receiver during the 2026 season.

Two former UTC basketball players find new programs via portal

by Gene Henley ·April 24, 2026

Caia Elisaldez is headed to Wisconsin, while Collin Mulholland has landed at Utah State, each after three basketball seasons at UTC.

Staff file photo by Seth Carpenter / UTC point guard Caia Elisaldez (11), the SoCon women's basketball player of the year as a junior this past season, is transferring to Big Ten member Wisconsin.

UTC men adding Boyd Buchanan standout Caleb Hardaway next season

by Gene Henley ·April 23, 2026

The UTC men's basketball team has gained another addition to its roster for the 2026-27 season, and he's coming from Chattanooga.