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 loses shootout with Western Carolina on field goal at end

by Gene Henley ·October 7, 2023

Western Carolina had the football last at Finley Stadium on a day when that was paramount, and the Catamounts made it count to negate some UTC heroics.

Staff photo by Matt Hamilton / UTC receiver Javin Whatley, left, pulls down a catch as Western Carolina's Darian Anderson Jr. defends during Saturday's SoCon game at Finley Stadium.

East Hamilton earns big Region 4-5A win over Walker Valley

by Gene Henley ·October 6, 2023

When asked what he saw on the play of his winning touchdown run Friday night, Jaden Haywood's answer was pretty straightforward.

Staff photo by Robin Rudd / East Hamilton quarterback Trey Crawford (7) tries to avoid the tackle of Walker Valley's Conner Phillips during a TSSAA Region 4-5A game Friday night at East Hamilton.

Mocs emphasize even-keeled approach to key SoCon game vs. Western Carolina

by Gene Henley ·October 6, 2023

The UTC football team has done the "big October home game" successfully before. Quite recently, actually.

Staff photo by Matt Hamilton / UTC linebacker Kameron Brown celebrates after a tackle during the Sept. 9 nonconference home win against Kennesaw State. The Mocs are back at Finley Stadium on Saturday for a ranked matchup in SoCon play against Western Carolina.

Harvard grad transfer Kobe Joseph ‘ultimate team guy’ for Mocs

by Gene Henley ·October 5, 2023

Going from the Ivy League to the Scenic City is working out nicely for linebacker Kobe Joseph, who said UTC knows how to take care of athletes.

UTC Athletics photo by Laura O'Dell / UTC linebacker Kobe Joseph (32) helps tackle The Citadel's Romello Jones during the SoCon opener for both teams on Sept. 16 at Finley Stadium. UTC won the game 48-3, and Joseph totaled six tackles, with two of those for lost yardage, including one sack for an 8-yard setback.

UTC tight end Camden Overton showed maturity by staying cool in heated moment

by Gene Henley ·October 4, 2023

UTC coach Rusty Wright believes tight end Camden Overton's biggest play of the night at Wofford might have been one when he didn't have a catch.

Staff file photo by Olivia Ross / UTC sophomore tight end Camden Overton (16) stiff-arms The Citadel's Bradlee Jones on his way to the end zone for a touchdown on Sept. 16 at Finley Stadium. Overton has six catches through five games this year, matching his total for all of last season, and both his skills and his emotional maturity have been big factors in his role expanding this fall.

UTC running back Gino Appleberry maximized chance to help team win in tough spot

by Gene Henley ·October 1, 2023

Gino Appleberry played his role.

Staff photo by Olivia Ross / UTC running back Gino Appleberry went over 1,000 career rushing yards during Saturday's road win against Wofford.

Mocs analysis: Methodical drive was just what UTC needed late

by Gene Henley ·September 30, 2023

UTC beat writer Gene Henley breaks down the Mocs' win at Wofford.

UTC Athletics photo by Laura O'Dell / Quay Wiggles (0) had 1.5 sacks as part of a UTC defense that shook off a slow start and helped the Mocs win 23-13 in Saturday night's SoCon game against Wofford in Spartanburg, S.C.

Mocs step up in fourth quarter to win at Wofford

by Gene Henley ·September 30, 2023

The UTC football team is 4-1 for the second consecutive year, but getting the latest win took some fourth-quarter work Saturday night at Wofford.

Staff file photo by Matt Hamilton / UTC quarterback Chase Artopoeus helped the Mocs improve to 3-0 in the SoCon with Saturday's road win against Wofford.

Mocs determined not to look past this week, winless Wofford

by Gene Henley ·September 29, 2023

Sometimes the growth in potentially good football teams comes more from the games they are expected to win than the toss-ups.

Staff file photo by Matt Hamilton / Rusty Wright is 3-1 against Wofford as head coach of the UTC football program, with his lone loss a 35-34 overtime setback in Spartanburg, S.C., in 2019, his first season leading the Mocs.

McCallie grad Jay Gibson helps UTC extend its passing attack to tight ends

by Gene Henley ·September 28, 2023

Rusty Wright admittedly wasn't excited when he saw Chase Artopoeus throw a contested ball to tight end Jay Gibson during last week's game at Samford.