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.
Kendall Watson's phone didn't ring like he wanted it to after a standout prep football career at McCallie.
by Gene Henley 5 hours agoTy Boeck has become a tackling machine for the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga this season.
by Gene HenleyWhat enabled the UTC football team to go from an overtime loss against the reigning SoCon champion to a statement win against the top team in the standings in the span of a week?
by Gene HenleyDevonnsha Maxwell found another gear in the fourth quarter when it came to quarterback pressure. UTC found a way to do something no one else had done this season: beat East Tennessee State.
by Gene HenleyThe shape of a football suggests it is never going to bounce in any particular direction every single time.
by Gene HenleyMaybe the UTC football program has taken its talent for granted.
by Gene HenleyAfter flirting with reaching the USL League One playoffs in their first two seasons of existence, the Chattanooga Red Wolves got it done in year three. Now it's all about placement.
by Gene HenleyA willingness and an ability to do so much on the football field helped Jacob Saylors help Marion County High School's football program for four years. The former Warriors star has written a similar story with East Tennessee State University as the Buccaneers prepare to visit UTC on Saturday.
by Gene HenleyKohl Henke joined the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga football program in 2018 as the third highest-rated prep recruit of head coach Tom Arth's second signing class, right behind fellow three-star prospects in defensive tackle Josh Walker and defensive end Mychal Austin (both since departed).
by Gene HenleyRusty Wright and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga football team need a short memory this week.
by Gene HenleyThe UTC football team lost in overtime Saturday at Virginia Military Institute, a result that was frustrating for the Mocs and puzzling in how it happened.
by Gene HenleyAiden McClary had a right to be frustrated early in the season.
by Gene HenleyIt has taken a while, but it appears UTC's offense is slowly rounding into form.
by Gene HenleyThe UTC men's basketball team opened practice last week for its 2020-21 schedule, with the Mocs coming off an 18-8 record in their fourth season under coach Lamont Paris.
by Gene HenleyThe UTC women's basketball team tipped off practice last week for the 2021-22 schedule, hoping to improve on last season's 14-10 record.
by Gene HenleyThe thought of going to college in the state of Tennessee had never occurred to CaMiron Smith.
by Gene HenleyJay Person couldn't believe it.
by Gene HenleyUTC used its SoCon opener to prove its offense is capable of making explosive plays. Lots of them, actually.
by Gene HenleyJustin Woody and his fellow Rhea County offensive linemen grew up playing in Golden Eagles coach Mark Pemberton's system.
by Gene HenleyReginald Henderson knows it. All of the UTC receivers know it.
by Gene Henley