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.

A year of unlearning has Jackson ready to start for the Mocs

by Gene Henley ·August 18, 2026

In his first two seasons of college football, Keyshawn Jackson has always worked his way onto the field.

Staff File Photo by Larry Sullivan II / UTC defensive back Keyshawn Jackson is expected to be a key contributor in the secondary this fall.

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Analysis: Was 2025 the year before the year for UTC football?

by Gene Henley ·August 17, 2026

It's been a while since external expectations have been tampered like this for the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga football program entering a season.

Staff photo by Matt Hamilton/ UTC head coach Rusty Wright watches his team warm up during a practice at Scrappy Moore Field earlier this summer.

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UTC offensive line’s hard lessons from 2025 should pay off this fall

by Gene Henley ·July 17, 2026

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga's 2026 football season kicks off Aug. 29 at West Georgia, and beat writer Gene Henley is taking a daily positional look at UTC's roster.

UTC photo by Laura O'Dell / UTC left tackle Aidan Donald (69), a redshirt junior, started all 12 games for the Mocs last season.

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Mocs in good shape at receiver, tight end despite transfer portal losses

by Gene Henley ·July 16, 2026

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga's 2026 football season kicks off Aug. 29 at West Georgia, and beat writer Gene Henley is taking a daily positional look at UTC's roster.

Staff file photo by Matt Hamilton / UTC senior Will Jackson-Linkhart, an offseason addition from the NCAA transfer portal, is expected to play a hybrid role this year, when the 6-foot-5, 237-pounder could help the Mocs at tight end or receiver.

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UTC’s options at running back look solid ahead of preseason camp

by Gene Henley ·July 15, 2026

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga's 2026 football season kicks off Aug. 29 at West Georgia, and beat writer Gene Henley is taking a daily positional look at UTC's roster.

Staff file photo by Matt Hamilton / UTC senior running back Kevin Lalin (9), who played previously at Catawba and Limestone, is among the players who could help the Mocs rebuild a rushing attack that graduated valuable veterans Justus Durant and Ryan Ingram.

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Breaking down the 2026 Mocs: A look at the quarterbacks

by Gene Henley ·July 14, 2026

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga’s 2026 football season kicks off Aug. 29 at West Georgia, and beat writer Gene Henley is taking a daily positional look at UTC’s roster.

Staff photo by Matt Hamilton/ UTC quarterback Battle Alberson looks for a receiver during the team's spring showcase at Scrappy Moore Field on April 18.

UTC women’s basketball team undergoes offseason makeover

by Gene Henley ·July 13, 2026

For a lot of reasons, this was going to be an offseason of change for the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga women's basketball program.

Staff photo by Larry Sullivan II/ UTC women's basketball coach Deandra Schirmer has overseen numerous offseason changes to the team.

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Wharton puts UTC’s NIL funding in top half of Southern Conference

by Gene Henley ·July 8, 2026

UTC athletic director Mark Wharton believes the Mocs are trending toward a "sweet spot" when it comes to building a steady source of NIL funding.

Staff file photo / UTC athletic director Mark Wharton's tenure, which dates to 2017, has included helping the Mocs navigate a new world of college sports in which student-athletes can be compensated for their name, image and likeness without losing NCAA eligibility.

Legendary coach Frank Reed retires from UTC softball after 25 seasons

by Gene Henley ·June 22, 2026

During a recent conversation while airing out some gripes about the current state of college athletics, longtime University of Tennessee at Chattanooga softball coach Frank Reed pondered about how much longer he may lead the program.

Staff File Photo / UTC softball head coach Frank Reed has retired after leading the program for 25 years.

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UTC men go local, national, international in roster flip for 2026-27

by Gene Henley ·June 20, 2026

UTC men's basketball coach Dan Earl and his staff turned over every possible proverbial rock to put together the best possible potential roster for next season.