Our Hosts

Nathanael Rutherford - Creator, Producer, Co-Host

Nathanael first created the SEC Basketball Fever Podcast in September of 2020, but after seeing how hungry Vol fans were for a basketball-specific show aimed exclusively at Tennessee hoops, he decided to rebrand and create the Vol Basketball Fever Podcast in March of 2021.

Vols and Lady Vols basketball have been a big part of Nathanael's life since childhood. His first memories of UT hoops were of Buzzball in Thompson Boling Arena and Pat Summitt dominating the women's basketball world.

Nathanael served as managing editor of Rocky Top Insider for three years and covered University of Tennessee athletics for six years prior to starting this podcast. While sports are more of a part-time enjoyment for him now, his obsession with Tennessee basketball has not waned. He strives to bring Vol fans the kind of basketball content they deserve, not simply sidelining Tennessee's hoops programs to second fiddle.

Gene Henley - Co-Host

Gene joined Nathanael at the inception of the SEC Basketball Fever Podcast, and he stayed with the program through the rebrand to the Vol Basketball Fever Podcast. Gene played basketball and has covered various athletic programs across east Tennessee.

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. While he now covers UT-Chattanooga for the Times Free Press, he covered the Vols for several years, too. Gene spent three years playing college basketball, then played a year of semi-professional ball before starting with the Cleveland Daily Banner in 2005.

Together, Gene and Nathanael form the backbone of the Vol Basketball Fever Podcast.