Stephen has covered sports in the tri-state area for the Times Free Press for more than 31 years and was named Sports Editor in February of 2015 after 10 years as assistant sports editor. Stephen is among the most decorated writers in the TFP newsroom, having won 71 awards at the state, regional and national level ranging from investigative work to feature and news writing. He became the youngest member elected to the Greater Chattanooga Sports Hall of Fame in 2017 and was named one of the top 10 sports writers in the nation at the Associated Press Sports Editors' conference in Kissimmee Fla., in 2012. He has been recognized by the Society of Professional Journalists with Green Eyeshade southeast regional awards three times, where his work was noted for its high standards of ethical journalism. He received an Associated Press national award for a season-long story following the Taft Youth Center football team, became the first writer from the TFP staff to win first-place as the state's top overall sports writer by the Associated Press Media Editors and has also been named the state's overall Writer of the Year three times. He has been awarded the state's top prep writer a record 18 times, is the first writer on the TFP staff to win the prestigious Lawrenceburg Quarterback Club's Sports Writer of the Year and was recognized with the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association's Sportsmanship Award for Contributor of the Year in the state twice. He is also a regular contributor previewing and highlighting prep football on local television. In 2018 Stephen authored "Eight hateful miles", a book detailing the heated football rivalry between Marion County and South Pittsburg, and in 2013 he co-authored a book about University of Tennessee football entitled "Game Of My Life". Stephen is a lifelong Chattanooga area resident and has two children, Riley and Lauren.
After battling for nearly six full innings - first just managing to score a run, then narrowly holding onto a slim lead - it only took one swing for Soddy-Daisy's softball team to finally end the drama.
by Stephen HargisWhen Henry Godbout came to Baylor School from Brooklyn, New York, he said he wanted to experience southern culture and great baseball.
by Stephen HargisRebecca Castle's bold investment is beginning to pay off.
by Stephen HargisChattanooga Christian School has announced Derek Markey as the Director of Tennis for its new Maclellan Tennis Center, which is scheduled to open later this summer.
by Stephen HargisThe annual Times Free Press Best of Preps awards banquet is returning to an in-person event this summer and will be headlined by a nationally recognized college athlete.
by Stephen HargisIt is a relationship and a life rooted deeply in dirt. And as far as David and Susan Crownover are concerned, they wouldn't want it any other way.
by Stephen HargisSeven players from the Chattanooga area have been named to the Tennessee Sports Writers Association girls' basketball all-state teams in their respective classifications.
by Stephen HargisSeven players from the Chattanooga area have been named to the Tennessee Sports Writers Association boys' basketball all-state teams in their respective classifications.
by Stephen HargisThe work Silverdale Baptist Academy's baseball team has done indoors is certainly transferring out onto the field.
by Stephen HargisOne of the Chattanooga area's most successful high school coaches — regardless of sport — has announced her plan to retire. GPS softball coach Susan Crownover will step down at the end of the current season, her 29th with the program.
by Stephen HargisThe common reactions to the latest trend making its way around the horn on baseball diamonds throughout the Chattanooga area — the long and the short of it, if you will — is that moms and girlfriends are cringing and balding dads are envious.
by Stephen HargisBrainerd High School has named Martels Carter its head football coach.
by Stephen HargisStanley Jackson has resigned as Brainerd High School's head football coach after just one season. Jackson, who was in his second stint as Panthers coach, said he had agreed to take over last spring with plans to only coach the 2021 season.
by Stephen HargisOn the same day the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga men's basketball team returned to the NCAA tournament, one of the heroes of the Mocs' 1997 Sweet 16 run returned to the prep program where his playing career began.
by Stephen HargisAfter stumbling through the second quarter, the Tyner Academy boys' basketball team completely fell flat in the third and never recovered.
by Stephen HargisRegardless of how many others applied or how impressive the list of those interviewed, one candidate stood out for Red Bank's vacant football coaching job.
by Stephen HargisThe magnitude of the opportunity that's in front of them could easily become overwhelming.
by Stephen HargisFor the first 31 minutes of Tuesday's TSSAA Class 2A boys' state tournament quarterfinal game, Tyner Academy calmly built a comfortable lead.
by Stephen HargisAn icy start and finish were just enough to bring the Brainerd boys' basketball season to an end Tuesday in the Class 2A state tournament quarterfinals.
by Stephen HargisAn ice-cold start and finish were enough to prevent Brainerd from advancing in Tuesday's Class 2A boys' state basketball tournament at the Murphy Center.
by Stephen Hargis