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 reach SoCon title game for fourth straight season

by Gene Henley ·March 6, 2026

UTC women's basketball coach Deandra Schirmer knows she has two of the best players in the SoCon in Gianna Corbitt and Caia Elisaldez, but they're more than that.

Staff file photo by Seth Carpenter / UTC junior guard Caia Elisaldez (11) scored 28 points to help the Mocs beat fourth-seeded Furman 76-65 in the SoCon semifinals Friday and reach Sunday's tournament title game in Asheville, N.C.

UTC men’s season of struggles ends in SoCon tourney opener

by Gene Henley ·March 6, 2026

Friday night was a perfect encapsulation of the UTC men's basketball team's 2025-26 season.

Staff file photo by Seth Carpenter / Dan Earl's fourth season as UTC men's basketball coach came to a close Friday, when the Mocs lost to The Citadel in the first game of the SoCon tournament in Asheville, N.C.

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UTC wrestling team gained from bringing Cooper Flynn closer to home

by Gene Henley ·March 5, 2026

When he was coming up in the wrestling ranks, Cooper Flynn would routinely make his way down to Chattanooga.

Staff photo by Seth Carpenter / UTC 125-pounder Cooper Flynn, right, holds a front headlock on Northern Colorado's Bryson Valdez during the Southern Scuffle tournament on Jan. 3 at McKenzie Arena. Flynn finished a team-best third that weekend and is one of four No. 1 seeds for the Mocs heading into Friday's SoCon tournament in Asheville, N.C.

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Jordan Frison stepping up helps UTC men build some momentum

by Gene Henley ·March 5, 2026

Mocs head to SoCon tournament having won three of their past four games

Staff photo by Seth Carpenter / UTC junior guard Jordan Frison drives to the basket during a SoCon regular-season game against UNC Greensboro on Feb. 26 at McKenzie Arena. Frison and his team have surged together recently, with the Mocs winning three of their past four games heading into the SoCon tournament that tips off Friday in Asheville, N.C.

Gianna Corbitt, 3-point success help UTC women roll in SoCon quarterfinals

by Gene Henley ·March 5, 2026

The UTC women's basketball team knocked down a season-high 13 3-pointers and never trailed while defeating Western Carolina to open the SoCon tournament Thursday.

Staff file photo by Seth Carpenter / UTC sophomore forward Gianna Corbitt had 20 points, five rebounds and four assists to lead the top-seeded Mocs to a 66-47 win against Western Carolina in the opening game of the SoCon tournament Thursday in Asheville, N.C.

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UTC women ready for SoCon tournament after recent bumpy stretch

by Gene Henley ·March 4, 2026

The UTC women's basketball team and coach Deandra Schirmer didn't shy away from the preseason expectations back in the fall.

Staff photo by Matt Hamilton / UTC's Izzy McPherson (14) and Falon Bedke (21) defend as Western Carolina's Betsy Burnett tries to pass during a SoCon regular-season game at McKenzie Arena on Feb. 19. UTC is the No. 1 seed for the SoCon tournament that starts Thursday in Asheville, N.C., despite the Mocs going 2-4 down the stretch and having to share the league's regular-season title with two other teams.

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Former Bradley star Brewer learning in first season at Samford

by Gene Henley ·March 2, 2026

Avary Brewer learning on the go as Samford freshman

UTC photo by Ray Soldano/Samford freshman guard and former Bradley Central standout Avary Brewer, left, defends against University of Tennessee at Chattanooga junior Caia Elisaldez during Samford's win Thursday at McKenzie Arena.

UTC women drop regular-season finale, still clinch SoCon’s top seed

by Gene Henley ·February 28, 2026

The UTC women's basketball team walked away from Saturday's regular-season finale against Mercer with the top seed in the SoCon tournament.

Staff file photo by Matt Hamilton / The UTC women's basketball team lost Saturday's regular-season finale at Mercer but still clinched the No. 1 seed for the upcoming SoCon tournament after finishing tied for first in the standings with East Tennessee State and Wofford.

UTC men wrap up regular season with third win in four games

by Gene Henley ·February 28, 2026

The UTC men's basketball team wrapped up a solid finish to a rough regular season Saturday with a home win against Virginia Military Institute.

Staff photo by Seth Carpenter / UTC's Makai Richards (34) shoots as VMI's Cal Liston (0) defends during a SoCon game Saturday at McKenzie Arena.

Mathew Knowles returns to UTC, remembers Chattanooga days

by Gene Henley ·February 28, 2026

Before he was Beyoncé's father and the manager of Destiny's Child, there was a time when Mathew Knowles represented Chattanooga on the basketball court.