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 defense passes physical, mental test at The Citadel

by Gene Henley ·November 6, 2022

Edge rusher Jay Person wasn't surprised the UTC defense performed well Saturday against The Citadel.

Staff photo by Robin Rudd / UTC edge rusher Jay Person makes a tackle during the Mocs' Oct. 15 win against VMI at Finley Stadium. The Mocs are home again this Saturday to host Samford in a game that will have a big impact on the SoCon title race.

With star Ailym Ford back, Mocs get back to winning

by Gene Henley ·November 5, 2022

Ailym Ford was miserable last weekend. One week later, he felt a whole lot better and so did the entire UTC football program.

UTC Athletics by Laura O’Dell / UTC running back Ailym Ford pulls a defender as heads to the end zone during Saturday's SoCon game against The Citadel in Charleston, S.C. Ford, who missed last weekend's close loss at Furman, totaled nearly 200 yards of offense against the Bulldogs.

Red Wolves share credit for reaching USL League One final in challenging season

by Gene Henley ·November 5, 2022

Before this season started, Jose Carrera-Garcia talked about how much pride he took in being the captain of the Chattanooga Red Wolves.

Staff photo by Olivia Ross / Jose Carrera-Garcia, left, gets possession of the ball for the Chattanooga Red Wolves during an April 16 home match against Richmond. The Red Wolves will face South Georgia Tormenta FC at 7:30 p.m. Sunday in Statesboro for the USL League One championship.

East Hamilton defense holds up in playoff win against DeKalb County

by Gene Henley ·November 4, 2022

Josh Brewer and the rest of East Hamilton's defense weren't about to let the Hurricanes lose Friday night.

Staff photo by Robin Rudd / East Hamilton's defense stops DeKalb County's Colby Barnes (24) for no gain during Friday's game in the first round of the TSSAA Class 4A playoffs.

Mocs eager to control their playoff fate by winning out

by Gene Henley ·November 4, 2022

There are similarities between this November and last November for the UTC football team, but the Mocs are planning on a better ending.

Staff photo by Matt Hamilton / UTC defensive players talk on the sideline during an Oct. 22 win against Mercer at Finley Stadium. The Mocs took their first SoCon loss of the season last weekend at Furman, but they remain in the race for the league title and the FCS playoffs with three games left on the schedule.

UTC safety Jordan Walker matures into bigger role for Mocs

by Gene Henley ·November 3, 2022

It took a lot of work just for Jordan Walker to become part of the UTC football program.

Staff photo by Olivia Ross / UTC defensive back Jordan Walker gestures during practice Wednesday at Scrappy Moore Field. Walker, in his third season with the Mocs, is part of a young but improving secondary.

From Sweden to UTC: Lucas Lavin’s football journey

by Gene Henley ·November 2, 2022

Over the past four years, Lucas Lavin has picked up a lot more about American culture than anything he could have learned over the internet.

Staff photo by Olivia Ross / UTC offensive lineman Lucas Lavin (69) gets set during practice Wednesday at Scrappy Moore Field. Lavin, a 26-year-old from Sweden, joined the Mocs for his final season of college football after stops in California and Colorado.

Mocs’ reaction to first SoCon loss shows team’s drive to reach higher goals

by Gene Henley ·October 30, 2022

Jamoi Mayes sat alone on the green carpet that led up to the visitors locker room at Paladin Stadium.

Staff photo by Matt Hamilton / UTC receiver Jamoi Mayes had four catches for 69 yards Saturday at Furman, where the Mocs' rally fell short in a 24-20 SoCon loss.

Missed opportunities doom Mocs at Furman

by Gene Henley ·October 29, 2022

So many things had gone against the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga throughout the course of Saturday's Southern Conference football game, yet with 3:13 remaining, the eighth-ranked Mocs had just forced a stop defensively, and 24th-ranked Furman had shanked a punt with UTC taking over at the Paladins' 40-yard line and trailing 24-20.

UTC Athletics photo by Laura O’Dell / UTC quarterback Preston Hutchinson prepares to pass in the Mocs' Southern Conference 24-20 loss at Furman Saturday.

Mocs move past big football win with hope for more

by Gene Henley ·October 28, 2022

The UTC football team celebrated last week's win over Mercer for what it was worth, which was the weekend.