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 goes from favorite to dark horse in SoCon, but Jay Person receives preseason honor

by Gene Henley ·July 27, 2023

Despite being as productive as anyone on his side of the ball, UTC edge rusher Jay Person is just now moving into the role of face of the defense.

Staff file photo by Robin Rudd / UTC edge rusher Jay Person (30) was the SoCon defensive player of the year after a standout 2022 season, and he received the preseason honor Thursday at the league's media day in Greenville, S.C. The Mocs, however, were picked to finish fourth in the SoCon, behind Furman, Samford and Mercer.

Collecting data: UTC hopes to surge forward with NIL collective

by Gene Henley ·July 22, 2023

Name, Image and Likeness was just a buzz term for University of Tennessee at Chattanooga athletics.

Staff Photo by Matt Hamilton / University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Director of Athletics Mark Wharton is hoping a new collective aimed at providing the school's student athletes Name, Likeness and Image funding will be a success.

UTC positional analysis: Secondary gets makeover after 2022 struggles

by Gene Henley ·July 17, 2023

The Times Free Press is taking a positional look at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga football roster as the season kicks off in less than two months with a Sept. 2 date at North Alabama.

Staff Photo by Robin Rudd / UTC's Kam Brown (15) returns a interception. The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Mocs hosted the Virginia Military Institute Keydets in a Southern Conference football game, at Finley Stadium, on October 15, 2022.

UTC positional analysis: Losses big at linebacker, but youth movement should keep group solid

by Gene Henley ·July 16, 2023

The Times Free Press is taking a positional look at the UTC football roster with the Mocs' season set to kick off in less than two months.

Staff photo by Olivia Ross / From left, UTC's Bo Spearman, Chris Houston and Alec Boruff celebrate a play during a home game against North Alabama last September.

UTC positional analysis: Former Bradley Central standout Jay Person will lead D-line

by Gene Henley ·July 15, 2023

The Times Free Press is taking a positional look at the UTC football roster with the Mocs' season set to kick off in less than two months.

Staff photo by Olivia Ross / UTC defensive lineman Jay Person deflects a pass by North Alabama's Noah Walters during a nonconference game last September at Finley Stadium. Person was the SoCon defensive player of the year for 2022 and was also honored as an All-American.

UTC positional analysis: Mocs need consistency on O-line to reach postseason goals

by Gene Henley ·July 14, 2023

The Times Free Press is taking a positional look at the UTC football roster with the Mocs' season set to kick off in less than two months.

Staff file photo by Matt Hamilton / Bryce Goodner enters his sophomore season on UTC's offensive line having played in all 11 games last season while making eight starts.

UTC positional analysis: Mocs have receivers, tight tends to usher in an inexperienced QB

by Gene Henley ·July 13, 2023

The Times Free Press is taking a positional look at the UTC football roster with the Mocs' season set to kick off in less than two months.

Staff photo by Robin Rudd / UTC tight end Jay Gibson (87) follows the blocking of Nick Cerimele on a screen pass during a SoCon game against VMI at Finley Stadium on Oct. 15, 2022.

UTC positional analysis: Mocs expected to continue leaning on running game in 2023

by Gene Henley ·July 12, 2023

The Times Free Press is taking a positional look at the UTC football roster with the Mocs' season set to kick off in less than two months.

Staff file photo by Robin Rudd / UTC's Ailym Ford (0) enters his fifth season with the Mocs having accounted for 49% of their rushing yards during his career. Ford and his fellow running backs are expected to be leaned on heavily this season, too, with the Mocs again bringing in a new quarterback.

UTC positional analysis: Mocs need someone to emerge at QB

by Gene Henley ·July 11, 2023

The Times Free Press is taking a positional look at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga football roster as the season kicks off in less than two months with a Sept. 2 date at North Alabama.

Staff photo by Matt Hamilton / UTC (9) Chase Artopoeus fires a pass from the pocket during a UTC football practice at Scrappy Moore Field on Wednesday, February 15, 2023.

Subscriber Exclusive

Six most impactful UTC players for the 2023 season

by Gene Henley ·July 10, 2023

For the Mocs to contend, these six need to produce

Staff Photo by Robin Rudd / Jay Person (30), the reigning Southern Conference Defensive Player of the Year, returns to help solidify a University of Tennessee at Chattanooga defense that lost a few stars from last season.