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.

UTC women’s top two players plan to enter transfer portal

by Gene Henley ·March 25, 2026

UTC point guard Caia Elisaldez and forward Gianna Corbitt are expected to enter the NCAA transfer portal.

Staff photo by Larry Sullivan II / UTC junior point guard Caia Elisaldez directs the offense during a SoCon regular-season game against UNC Greensboro on Feb. 21 at McKenzie Arena.

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Five key questions for the Mocs as spring football practice begins

by Gene Henley ·March 23, 2026

When the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga football program, which is coming off a 5-7 campaign in 2025, starts spring practice Tuesday morning, it will be the first glimpse of what the 2026 team could look like.

Staff photo by Matt Hamilton/ After showing potential last season, Battle Alberson will look to establish himself as UTC's starting quarterback during spring practice.

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UTC men’s basketball program likely to have busy offseason as roster changes

by Gene Henley ·March 21, 2026

Coming off a lackluster follow-up to its NIT championship, the UTC men's basketball program has entered an important offseason.

Staff photo by Matt Hamilton / From left, Furman's Eddrin Bronson and UTC's Jordan Frison battle for the ball during a SoCon regular-season game on Jan. 7 at McKenzie Arena.

Mocs lose in WBIT; UTC wrestler Cooper Flynn alive in NCAA tourney

by Gene Henley ·March 19, 2026

UTC junior point guard Caia Elisaldez scored a career-high 33 points, but the Mocs' season ended in the first round of the Women's Basketball Invitation Tournament.

Staff file photo by Seth Carpenter / UTC junior point guard Caia Elisaldez, with ball, scored a career-high 33 points in the Mocs' 75-62 loss at North Dakota State in the first round of the Women's Basketball Invitation Tournament on Thursday night in Fargo.

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Mocs must pass tough first-round test in Fargo to make WBIT run

by Gene Henley ·March 18, 2026

The UTC women's basketball team had to settle for spectator status last April as the UTC men celebrated their NIT championship with a parade downtown.

Staff photo by Larry Sullivan II / UTC's Kalifa Ford, in white, dives for the basketball during a SoCon regular-season game against UNC Greensboro on Feb. 21 at McKenzie Arena. The Mocs visit North Dakota State, a No. 1 seed, in the first round of the Women's Basketball Invitation Tournament on Thursday.

UTC facing North Dakota State in Fargo for first round of WBIT

by Gene Henley ·March 15, 2026

UTC will visit North Dakota State in the first round of the Women's Basketball Invitation Tournament, with the matchup in Fargo set for Thursday.

Staff file photo by Matt Hamilton / Kalifa Ford (34) and her UTC teammates will travel to face North Dakota State in the first round of the 32-team Women's Basketball Invitation Tournament on Thursday in Fargo.

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UTC men’s past two seasons show need to enjoy teams while they last

by Gene Henley ·March 12, 2026

For better or worse, college basketball seasons are forgotten faster than ever as programs struggle to build lasting identities in the transfer era.

Staff photo by Matt Hamilton / UTC men's basketball coach Dan Earl talks with players on the bench during the Mocs' season-opening win against Union Commonwealth on Nov. 3 at McKenzie Arena. The Mocs celebrated winning the previous season's NIT championship before the game.

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UTC women have deeper perspective this time after SoCon title loss

by Gene Henley ·March 11, 2026

A season ago, UTC women's basketball coach Deandra Schirmer used her opening statement after a loss in the SoCon title game to criticize the officiating.

Staff file photo / UTC women's basketball coach Deandra Schirmer, left, talked about her pride in her players beyond the court after Sunday's loss to Samford in the SoCon tournament title game.

Walker Valley starts strong to earn another 4A state tournament berth

by Gene Henley ·March 9, 2026

The path to Walker Valley's first region championship since 2016 didn't necessarily start in the offseason.

Staff Photo by Seth Carpenter/ Walker Valley senior Ashton Davis connects on a jumper as the Mustangs topped Lebanon in Monday's TSSAA Class 4A sectional round to advance to the state tournament for the second consecutive year.

UTC women lose SoCon title game for second straight season

by Gene Henley ·March 8, 2026

The UTC women's basketball team picked the worst possible time to have perhaps its worst defensive performance of the season.