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.

Late rally spoils Mocs’ upset hopes in NCAA softball tourney

by Gene Henley ·May 17, 2024

The UTC softball team bounced back from losing its second game at last week's SoCon tournament to win the league championship.

Staff file photo by Olivia Ross / UTC's Acelynn Sellers drove in both runs during the Mocs' 3-2 loss to host Florida State in the opening game of the NCAA tournament's Tallahassee Regional on Friday.

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Former Chattanooga prep standouts lead Mocs into NCAA tourney

by Gene Henley ·May 16, 2024

Ooltewah's Addy Keylon, Silverdale Baptist grad Kaili Phillips two of four seniors on UTC roster

UTC Athletics photo / UTC senior softball player Kaili Phillips, a former Silverdale Baptist Academy standout from Ooltewah, played a huge role in helping the Mocs sweep the SoCon regular-season and tournament titles to reach the NCAA tournament. The Mocs will face 15th-seeded Florida State in the Tallahassee Regional on Friday.

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How do contracts for seven former UTC players in NFL compare?

by Gene Henley ·May 15, 2024

Jay Person, who revealed Monday that he had signed with the New England Patriots, is just the latest former UTC player to make his way to the NFL.

AP photo by Lindsey Wasson / Seattle Seahawks offensive lineman McClendon Curtis warms up before a home game against the Arizona Cardinals on Oct. 22. Curtis was a prep star at Central in Harrison before going on to be a college star at his hometown school of UTC.

UTC men’s golf team closes season with 10th-place regional finish

by Gene Henley ·May 15, 2024

The UTC men's golf team wrapped up its 2023-24 season on Wednesday in the NCAA's Rancho Sante Fe Regional.

GoMocs.com photo by Al Change / UTC senior golfer Samuel Espinosa closed with a 1-under 69 on Wednesday at the NCAA's Rancho Santa Fe Regional to place among the top 25 individuals as the Mocs wound up 10th in the team standings.

Golf Mocs improve, but still 10th at regional

by Gene Henley ·May 14, 2024

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga men's golf team shaved six strokes off its day one total in the NCAA Rancho Santa Fe Regional Tuesday, but remained in 10th place with a plus-22, 582 total after the second day of the three-day event in San Diego, California.

GoMocs.com photo/University of Tennessee at Chattanooga senior golfer John Houk watches a shot in a recent tournament. Houk is currently tied for 14th individually and the Mocs sit at 10th after two days of the NCAA Rancho Sante Fe Regionals in San Diego.

UTC’s Jay Person signs deal with NFL’s Patriots

by Gene Henley ·May 13, 2024

After seeing Jay Person impress at rookie minicamp, the New England Patriots have signed the former University of Tennessee at Chattanooga edge rusher to a contract to join the team's 90-man roster, according to multiple reports.

Staff photo by Matt Hamilton/ Former University of Tennessee at Chattanooga linebacker Jay Person (30) has signed a contract with New England and will have a shot at joining former teammate Cole Strange on the Patriots' roster this fall.

Mocs to face No. 15 seed Florida State in NCAA softball regional

by Gene Henley ·May 12, 2024

The UTC softball team will face NCAA tournament No. 15 seed Florida State on Friday to begin its time at the Tallahassee Regional.

Staff photo by Olivia Ross / UTC's Alyssa Lavdis pitches during a Feb. 16 game against Ball State at Frost Stadium.

UTC wins SoCon softball tourney title No. 16 the hard way

by Gene Henley ·May 11, 2024

UTC has now won 16 Southern Conference softball tournament championships. The latest one was earned the hard way at the double-elimination event.

Staff file photo by Olivia Ross / UTC's Kaili Phillips, pictured, fellow senior Kendall Forsythe and sophomore pitcher Peja Goold received all-tournament recognition after helping the Mocs win the SoCon title Saturday in Greensboro, N.C. Goold was honored as the tourney's most outstanding player.

Competition within team kept UTC men’s golfers sharp this season

by Gene Henley ·May 11, 2024

UTC golfer Samuel Espinosa recently said the process of qualifying to be in the lineup was sometimes "more scary than tournaments."

Photo by Todd Drexler / UTC junior Garrett Engle competes in the Southern Conference men's golf tournament on April 23 at Champions Club in Greensboro, Georgia.

Mocs must win twice Saturday to earn SoCon softball tourney title

by Gene Henley ·May 10, 2024

UTC's path to the NCAA tournament will be a bit more difficult Saturday