Stephen Hargis

Stephen has covered sports in the tri-state area for the Times Free Press for more than 35 years and was named Sports Editor in February of 2015 after 10 years as assistant sports editor, where he oversaw the prep sports staff. Stephen is among the most decorated writers in the TFP newsroom, having won more than 60 awards at the state, regional and national level ranging from investigative work to feature and news writing. Stephen was named one of the top 10 sports writers in the nation at the Associated Press Sports Editors' conference in Kissimmee Fla., in 2012, and has been recognized by the Society of Professional Journalists with Green Eyeshade southeast regional awards three times. He received an Associated Press national award for a season-long story following the Taft Youth Center football team, was named the state's top overall sports writer by the AP Media Editors as well as Tennessee Sports Writers Association three times and has also been named the state's top prep writer 19 times by the TSWA. Stephen is a lifelong Chattanooga area resident and has two children, Riley and Lauren.

Contact Stephen Hargis at shargis@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6293.

Massey leaving Chattanooga Christian to take over Briarcrest program

by Stephen Hargis ·February 14, 2023

Phil Massey is going home.

Staff Photo by Robin Rudd / Phil Massey has stepped down as head coach at Chattanooga Christian to accept an offer to take over the program at Briarcrest Christian in Memphis.

Former South Pittsburg coach Vic Grider among TSSAA Hall of Fame inductees

by Stephen Hargis ·February 14, 2023

After stepping away from actively coaching prep football two years ago, Vic Grider admits he sometimes misses the adrenaline of a big win.

Staff Photo by Robin Rudd / Vic Grider flashes a rare smile before the Meigs County game. The South Pittsburg Pirates visited the Meigs County Tigers at the school's Jewell Field on Friday, October 9, 2020, in Decatur, Tenn.

Owensby steps down as Hixson High football coach

by Stephen Hargis ·February 14, 2023

Josh Owensby has resigned after three seasons as Hixson High School's head football coach. Owensby has agreed to accept an offer to join the Soddy-Daisy staff as an offensive assistant.

Staff Photo by Robin Rudd / Josh Owensby has stepped down as head football coach at Hixson High School and will join the Soddy-Daisy staff as an offensive assistant.

Meigs County names new head football coach

by Stephen Hargis ·February 13, 2023

Meigs County High School's new head football coach certainly won't need to wear a name tag.

Contributed photo // Meigs County has named Tommy Bunch as its new head football coach. Bunch had been the Tigers defensive coordinator the past two seasons.

McCallie quarterback Jeremy St. Hilaire commits to SEC program

by Stephen Hargis ·February 11, 2023

McCallie School quarterback Jeremy St. Hilaire became Vanderbilt's first verbal commitment for the 2024 recruiting class on Saturday.

Staff photo by Matt Hamilton / McCallie quarterback Jérémy St. Hilaire looks for a receiver while avoiding a St. Benedict defender during a TSSAA Division II-AAA playoff game on Nov. 4, 2022, in Chattanooga.

Sale Creek names Jason Fitzgerald new head football coach

by Stephen Hargis ·February 10, 2023

It took less than a day for one of the Chattanooga area's most successful builders of prep football programs to find his next project.

Staff photo by Robin Rudd / Jason Fitzgerald, who stepped down at Meigs County Thursday after nine successful seasons, has been named the new head football coach at Sale Creek on Friday.

Jason Fitzgerald steps down as Meigs County football coach

by Stephen Hargis ·February 9, 2023

Jason Fitzgerald, who rebuilt Meigs County High School's football program into one of the area's most consistent winners, has resigned.

Staff photo by Matt Hamilton / Jason Fitzgerald claps as the Meigs County football team warms up before a home game against Signal Mountain in September 2021.

Lady Vols lose at Mississippi State in double overtime

by Stephen Hargis ·February 6, 2023

The University of Tennessee women's basketball team lost for the third time in the past four games, falling 91-90 at Mississippi State in double overtime Monday. It was the Lady Vols second Southeastern Conference loss, dropping them to 17-9 overall, 9-2 in the league.

Ron Cox, the only coach Sale Creek High School football has known, steps down

by Stephen Hargis ·February 6, 2023

By trade Ron Cox has been a builder all of his adult life. For the past nine years Cox also constructed the Sale Creek High School football program, starting from scratch and building a solid foundation that took the team to the Class 1A playoffs each of the past five seasons.

Staff photo by Robin Rudd / Ron Cox coaches Sale Creek's football team during a scrimmage in August 2021 at Boyd-Buchanan.

Chattanooga Christian president Chad Dirkse resigning to accept similar job in Maryland

by Stephen Hargis ·February 6, 2023

Chattanooga Christian School President Chad Dirkse has announced he is stepping down at the end of the current school year. Dirkse, who has been the school's president for the past 14 years, has accepted an offer to become Head of School at Annapolis Area Christian School, a K-12 co-ed private school in Annapolis, Maryland.