Stephen has covered sports in the tri-state area for the Times Free Press for more than 26 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 54 awards at the state, regional and national level ranging from investigative work to feature and news writing, including 22 awards in the past three years. 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, 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 in the past four years. He has been awarded the state's top prep writer a record 18 times, including each of the past six years, 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. He is also a regular contributor previewing and highlighting prep football on local television. In 2013, Stephen 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.
Caleb Bagley resigned as head football coach at Coahulla Creek High School on Thursday, after three seasons with the program.
by Stephen HargisFor once, Brevin Sims took his time.
by Stephen HargisGary Murray has resigned as Hixson High School's head football coach after three seasons. Murray began working with the program in 2012 as an assistant coach, including as offensive coordinator in 2016.
by Stephen HargisIt's time to update life's certainties: death, taxes and Alcoa winning a state championship in football.
by Stephen HargisGoing into Thursday night's BlueCross Bowl Division II-AAA state championship game, most of the attention had been given to the McCallie offense — which was averaging 36 points per game — and the Montgomery Bell Academy defense, which hadn't allowed more than 14 points in a game as the Big Red won seven of their previous eight.
by Stephen HargisThe only thing that sputtered was a team bus on the way to the game.
by Stephen HargisBetter late than never.
by Stephen HargisAs the three-day spectacle of state championship football games begins Thursday at Tennessee Tech, it will mark the 20-year anniversary of BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee sponsoring the event.
by Stephen HargisWhen the Blue Tornado step onto the turf inside Tennessee Tech's Tucker Stadium for the Division II-AAA BlueCross Bowl, which is set for an 8 p.m. EST kickoff, they will be looking to snap a 14-game losing streak that spans 13 seasons and includes two playoff losses.
by Stephen HargisAl Rogers has resigned as head football coach at Silverdale Baptist Academy after nine seasons in charge of the program. Rogers told the team Tuesday afternoon.
by Stephen HargisThe third time was not the charm for South Pittsburg's football team.
by Stephen HargisEven the grass on the field is a reminder of what's at stake. With each passing week that South Pittsburg's football team has advanced deeper into the Class 1A playoffs, the Bermuda grass on the Beene Stadium field has progressively turned from lush green to a golden tint.
by Stephen HargisPacing the locker room just moments before sending top-ranked South Pittsburg to the field, Pirates defensive coordinator Shawn Peek repeated two words over and over to the team: "Fast and violent!"
by Stephen HargisFamiliarity truly will breed contempt in the TSSAA football playoffs this week.
by Stephen HargisBaylor junior running back Elijah Howard in Division II-AAA, Meigs County senior quarterback Aaron Swafford (Class 2A) and South Pittsburg senior running back/defensive back Ronto Tipton (1A) were all named finalists in their classifications during a Tuesday media event hosted by "Voice of the Titans" Mike Keith.
by Stephen HargisThrottled. Facing a Clay County defense that had allowed just 67 points in its first 11 games this year — an average of six per game, including six shutouts — South Pittsburg's offense never took its foot off the accelerator Friday night, rolling to a 57-13 win in the second round of the Class 1A playoffs.
by Stephen HargisBlack Friday came early in the Chattanooga area as last week's opening round of the TSSAA football playoffs wiped out more than half the local teams that reached the postseason.
by Stephen HargisOn the evening after learning he was once again a state Mr. Football semifinalist, Meigs County's Aaron Swafford went out and proved why he was selected.
by Stephen HargisDespite a disappointing regular season this year, 2018 Class 1A state champion Whitwell proved it still has plenty of fight left.
by Stephen HargisIt was bitterly cold and damp, which only seemed to make the moment more somber. Tyner had worked its way through the 2003 season unbeaten in its region and winner of 11 straight games before having its playoff run ended by Lipscomb Academy in the state quarterfinals.
by Stephen Hargis