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.
For college basketball teams outside the power conferences, there are only so many opportunities for program-changing wins.
by Gene HenleyFabian Gutierrez is UTC's lone senior wrestler, and in his fifth and final season on the mat with the Mocs, he has some personal and team business to finish.
by Gene HenleyGraduation, injuries and general frustration as far as production at the quarterback position led the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga football coaching staff to pursue multiple options in the transfer portal this offseason.
by Gene HenleyThis weekend provided a pleasingly surreal moment for Shane Chittum.
by Gene HenleyWith the UTC women's basketball team down to nine players for this past Monday's game at seventh-ranked Tennessee, somebody was going to have to go above and beyond for the Mocs.
by Gene HenleyBefore a recent game, University of Tennessee women's basketball coach Kellie Harper could look in one direction and see junior and leading returning scorer Rae Burrell in street clothes, recovering from an injury suffered the first game of the season.
by Gene HenleyTo understand the drive and the motivation for University of Tennessee at Chattanooga sophomore guard Malachi Smith, one must start at home.
by Gene HenleyIt has taken a while for UTC junior Brooke Hampel to figure out where she was most needed for the Mocs to be successful.
by Gene HenleyLate in the first half of Belmont's 76-68 win over the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga last week at the Curb Event Center, sophomore guard JaCobi Wood grabbed an offensive rebound and attacked the basket before flipping a no-look pass to senior center Nick Muszynski for a dunk that put the Bruins up 16.
by Gene HenleyMonday was a special day for Damian Rodriguez. In fact, it was a special day for the Rodriguez family.
by Gene HenleyOne day, Jamaal Walker's baby face will catch up to the rest of his body.
by Gene HenleyHalle Hughes could have left.
by Gene HenleyWednesday wasn't much for the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga football program as far as replenishing the roster for the 2022 season.
by Gene HenleyLamont Paris was at Wisconsin, Jamaal Walker was a sophomore in high school and Silvio De Sousa a senior the last time there was a legitimate buzz around the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga men's basketball program.
by Gene HenleyThe University of Tennessee at Chattanooga football program starts replenishing the roster for the 2022 season Wednesday with the start of the early signing period, which since its inception in 2017 has become the more popular time for kids to make college decisions.
by Gene HenleyIf transfer-stocked basketball teams are destined to sink or swim, the UTC Mocs are doing a whole lot more than keeping their heads above water.
by Gene HenleyIt made sense that UTC would need to find at least one quarterback this offseason: It's not a group the coaching staff feels confident about.
by Gene HenleyThis isn't the first time Abbey Cornelius has been through a frustrating start to a season for the UTC women's basketball team.
by Gene HenleyThe past few years have been somewhat of a "Where's Waldo" phase for KK Curry.
by Gene HenleyInjuries were the story of Grant Ledford's first couple of seasons at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
by Gene Henley