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.

Mocs fall to Tennessee Tech for second straight season

by Gene Henley ·September 5, 2026

UTC ran the football well enough to win its home opener Saturday evening and lost anyway, falling to nationally ranked Tennessee Tech at Finley Stadium.

Staff Photo by Matt Hamilton / Tennessee Tech's Tyrese Whitaker wraps up UTC quarterback Battle Alberson during Saturday's matchup at Finley Stadium. Alberson finished the game 6-of-16 passing for 37 yards with two interceptions and was sacked three times as the Mocs lost 24-9.

Tyner’s Dion Edwards does it all as Rams pull away to beat Red Bank

by Gene Henley ·September 4, 2026

Dion Edwards spent most of Friday night doing the things that never make it into a football game's box score.

Staff Photo by Matt Hamilton / Tyner junior Dion Edwards carries the ball as visiting Red Bank's Ben Craig closes in during Friday night's game.

Mocs set for home opener vs. nationally ranked Tennessee Tech

by Gene Henley ·September 4, 2026

UTC found out something about itself last week at University Stadium in Carrollton, Georgia. Saturday at Finley Stadium, it finds out how much that was worth.

Contributed Photo / UTC senior safety Kam Baah-Slay led the Mocs with eight tackles in their season-opening 24-10 win over West Georgia on Aug. 27 in Carrollton.

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UTC’s Ryan Bell nearly lost a leg; now he’s starting at defensive end

by Gene Henley ·September 3, 2026

It wasn't so long ago that doctors told Ryan Bell he might never play football again.

Staff Photo by Seth Carpenter / UTC junior defensive lineman Ryan Bell takes part in a preseason practice on Aug. 10 at Scrappy Moore Field. Bell joined the Mocs in January after spending two seasons at Bethune-Cookman, an FCS program in Daytona Beach, Fla.

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UTC’s receiver shortage opens door for Erik Bussmann

by Gene Henley ·September 2, 2026

What might have seemed to outsiders like a sudden opportunity for Erik Bussmann last week was a role he has spent years preparing for at UTC.

Staff Photo by Matt Hamilton / UTC junior receiver Erik Bussmann runs a route during an Aug. 14 preseason practice at Scrappy Moore Field. Bussmann made the first start of his UTC career last week as the Mocs opened the season with a road win against the University of West Georgia.

UTC notebook: Evan Rogers wins golf opener vs. loaded field in Knoxville

by Gene Henley ·September 2, 2026

UTC golfer Evan Rogers is 1-for-1 as a sophomore, and he helped the Mocs open their 2026-27 schedule strong to continue the program's best stretch in years.

Contributed photo / UTC sophomore golfer Evan Rogers, left, celebrates with head coach Blaine Woodruff. Rogers won the individual title at the Visit Knoxville Collegiate tournament, the season opener for the Mocs held Monday and Tuesday at Fox Den Country Club.

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Five things to know about Tennessee Tech

by Gene Henley ·September 1, 2026

Jamarr Jones spent three seasons on the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga defensive line. He started at defensive tackle against Tennessee Tech last September and had two assisted tackles in a 45-17 loss.

Staff File Photo by Matt Hamilton/ Zion Rutledge is one of five University of Tennessee at Chattanooga defensive players who started in last season's game against Saturday's opponent, Tennessee Tech.

Heavy workload in opener no issue for UTC’s Lalin

by Gene Henley ·August 31, 2026

Kevin Lalin knew the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga was going to need him Thursday night. He didn't know it was going to need him 30 times.

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UTC defense delivered on pregame plan to ‘change the narrative’

by Gene Henley ·August 29, 2026

Somewhere in the middle of the scouting report the UTC defense carried into Thursday night's 2026 season opener was a single page with three words on it.

Contributed photo / A host of UTC defenders, led by Jaden Nelson (29), make a play in Thursday's 24-10 win at the University of West Georgia.

Cleveland beats McMinn County to continue strong start to season

by Gene Henley ·August 28, 2026

In the aftermath of Cleveland's home win over McMinn County on Friday, senior quarterback Kason McGowan was asked what his team learned from last year's 1-9 season.