Gene has been with the Times Free Press since July 2008. Prior to that, he spent three years covering sports for the Cleveland Daily Banner. He now covers Tennessee athletics, focusing on football and basketball. Prior to that he spent five years in the same capacity, covering UTC. Gene spent three years playing college basketball, then played a year of semi-professional before starting with the Cleveland Daily Banner in 2005. His passion is basketball, but he loves all sports of all kinds. He does consider himself a fan of the Bulls (NBA), 49ers (NFL) and is attempting a new-found fandom of the Miami Marlins and Florida Panthers. Gene lives in Cleveland and has a 14-year old son, Judah.
To see just how far the UTC's men's basketball program has come in three-plus years with Lamont Paris as head coach, look no further than Wednesday's result at McKenzie Arena.
by Gene HenleyThe UTC men's basketball team opened its fourth season with Lamont Paris as coach in dominant fashion.
by Gene HenleyWednesday afternoon, Omar Wattad will step on the McKenzie Arena court as a coach and not a player.
by Gene HenleyTransfers, both in and out, have simply been part of the routine for the UTC men's basketball program since Lamont Paris took over in April 2017.
by Gene HenleyMaybe it was the fact that Meigs County running back Will Meadows was facing another Tennessee Titans Mr. Football finalist.
by Gene HenleyUTC will not permit fans at home basketball games through the end of the calendar year due to "challenges and safety concerns brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic," according to a school release Thursday.
by Gene HenleyThe University of Tennessee at Chattanooga women's basketball program has canceled its first two games of the 2020-21 season due to an undisclosed number of positive COVID-19 tests and contact tracing within the program which prompted a two-week quarantine.
by Gene HenleyLike every other college basketball program this year, UTC's process of putting together a schedule didn't come without its struggles.
by Gene HenleyMoments after Red Bank quarterback Joseph Blackmon polished off a 10-play, 79-yard drive with a 33-yard touchdown run that put the finishing touches on the Lions' 31-12 win over Brainerd in the second round of the TSSAA playoffs Friday night, a Lions assistant coach greeted every offensive lineman with the same five words:
by Gene HenleyJavon Burke had been more of a role player in Bradley Central's offense in recent seasons, which might have caused some people to underestimate just what he was capable of on the football field.
by Gene HenleyWith basketball season weeks away from tipoff, UTC's men and women know what coaches and the media think of their chances in the Southern Conference for 2020-21.
by Gene HenleyDon Martin Raymond was meant to be in the military. It was just a matter of which branch he chose.
by Gene HenleyThere may never be another time when a high school football coach will celebrate a 42-yard loss by his quarterback.
by Gene HenleyAnna Walker knew exactly what she was getting into. UTC women's basketball coach Katie Burrows made sure of that.
by Gene HenleyA seemingly unbelievable situation started to become real for University of Tennessee at Chattanooga senior tight end Chris James on Wednesday.
by Gene HenleyThe UTC football team lost 13-10 in heartbreaking fashion Saturday at Western Kentucky, the only fall game the Mocs will play in their 2020-21 schedule.
by Gene HenleyIf Saturday's performance was any indication of what lies ahead in the spring, UTC football coach Rusty Wright is in the process of building a solid program at his alma mater.
by Gene HenleyUTC's lone football game of 2020 is a loss, but the Mocs will return for Southern Conference play during the 2021 spring semester.
by Gene HenleyUTC vs. Western Kentucky college football game results as they happen.
by Gene HenleyUTC football coach Rusty Wright had a simple message for his team after Thursday's final practice before Saturday's game at Western Kentucky.
by Gene Henley