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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UTC’s Taylor Long worked her way back to being one of SoCon’s top pitchers

by Gene Henley ·April 30, 2025

Three days after a 13-strikeout performance last season, UTC pitcher Taylor Long didn't feel right.

GoMocs.com photo by Ray Soldano / UTC junior Taylor Long pitches during a recent game. After a nerve injury stunted her 2024 season, the former Sonoraville High School standout is back to being one of the top pitchers in the SoCon and has the Mocs on the verge of repeating as regular-season champions in the conference.

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Slimmed-down UTC defensive tackle aims to do more with less

by Gene Henley ·April 24, 2025

There's been plenty of change around defensive tackle Montrell Henderson since he joined the UTC football program in the summer of 2022.

Staff photo by Matt Hamilton / UTC defensive tackle Montrell Henderson practices at Finley Stadium on March 7. After reshaping his physique to be able to move better, the 6-foot-2, 292-pound redshirt junior is in line for a bigger role with the Mocs, who must replace two key seniors from last season at Henderson's position.

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Star duo’s drive helped UTC reach the top in OVC beach volleyball

by Gene Henley ·April 23, 2025

Corina Vale joined the UTC beach volleyball program, looked around and immediately realized she wanted to be challenged by the best.

UTC photo by Laura O'Dell / UTC beach volleyball teammates Neva Clark, left, and Corina Vale talk during a break in a recent match. Clark and Vale are 22-6 together this season at the No. 1 spot for the Mocs, who won the Ohio Valley Conference regular-season title this spring and are seeded No. 1 for the OVC tournament that starts Thursday in Chattanooga.

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UTC standout Honor Huff grateful for his time in Chattanooga

by Gene Henley ·April 20, 2025

On his last full day in Chattanooga, or at least his last one for a while, West Virginia-bound Honor Huff soaked everything in.

Staff photo by Matt Hamilton / UTC guard Honor Huff shoots a free throw after a technical foul against Dayton during an NIT second-round game on March 22 at McKenzie Arena. Huff has transferred to West Virginia for his final season of college basketball after three years with the Mocs that included a SoCon regular-season championship and the NIT title this year.

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UTC special teams staple hopes to play key role for defense in 2025

by Gene Henley ·April 18, 2025

Martez Cooksey Jr. kept on preparing in 2024 as if his opportunity was just around the corner.

Staff photo by Matt Hamilton / UTC redshirt sophomore Martez Cooksey plays defense during practice on March 7 at Finley Stadium. After contributing mostly on special teams for the Mocs so far, Cooksey is line for a bigger role at nickel back in the 2025 season.

Mocs thank fans during NIT title celebration at Miller Park

by Gene Henley ·April 17, 2025

The UTC men's basketball team's journey to the NIT title has been followed by a championship tour over the past two weeks.

Staff photo by Abby White / Frank Champion, a senior forward for the UTC men's basketball program this past season, leads the team into Miller Park as the Mocs greet fans on their way to the stage for Thursday evening's NIT championship celebration.

Mocs will be honored with NIT championship parade, rally

by Gene Henley ·April 11, 2025

The UTC men's basketball team will be honored with an official parade and celebration next week in honor of the Mocs winning the NIT.

Staff photo by Matt Hamilton / UTC fans cheer for members of the men's basketball team as they pose for photos at McKenzie Arena on April 4, a day after the Mocs won the NIT championship game in Indianapolis.

Calhoun grad McCartney Kessler’s rise on WTA Tour helped by brother McClain, Baylor boys’ tennis coach

by Gene Henley ·April 10, 2025

Tennis has been a family affair for the Kesslers for as long as siblings McCartney and McClain can remember.

Staff photo by Matt Hamilton / McCartney Kessler, a former Calhoun standout and Times Free Press Best of Preps girls' tennis player of the year who is ranked among the top 50 on the WTA Tour, practices Wednesday at Manker Patten Tennis Club.

UTC junior safety Kam Baah-Slay ready to lead as new starter

by Gene Henley ·April 10, 2025

Kam Baah-Slay had a couple of seasons to sit back a bit and mostly learn in the UTC secondary. Now it's time to show what he picked up.

Staff photo by Matt Hamilton / UTC safety Kam Baah-Slay practices March 7 at Finley Stadium. Baah-Slay, a junior, is expected to take on a much bigger role in the secondary this season after two veteran starters transferred.

Maintaining and building among UTC basketball offseason priorities

by Gene Henley ·April 8, 2025

Fresh off claiming the National Invitation Tournament championship, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga has already had a pretty busy offseason in terms of graduation and players both entering the transfer portal as well as adding pieces from it.