When it comes time to recover, be sure to cover the physical, cognitive, emotional, social, and spiritual aspects. How do you like to recover?

So how did she do it?

Levy had the confidence to believe that the Tar Heels could win a national title within four years of her arrival (it took 18). At the same time, she recognized that she didn’t have all the answers—and that she could learn from anyone. Knowing that success leaves clues, she modeled her approach on the successful men’s team, especially in recruiting and scheduling. She also leveraged the wisdom of two iconic UNC coaches: Anson Dorrance (women’s soccer) and Roy Williams (men’s basketball). Her confidence shows in her adaptability, her curiosity, and her clarity with recruits. She tells them: “This is who we are. These are the standards. If that’s not a fit, it’s okay.”

One of the key lessons Levy took from Dorrance was how he created a program where girls could be themselves—fiercely competitive, yet free to be goofy, laugh, and have a good time. Levy asks herself a guiding question: “What do I want them to feel?” But she’s clear: culture and standards are not the same. At the core, she believes in human standards—integrity, relationships, leadership, passion, and performance. And those standards are meant to stretch you: “Your best isn’t going to be comfortable.” She builds this mindset through competition. Practices are fast-paced and structured in six-minute drills. She trains players at the pace of competition and emphasizes decision-making over memorized plays. After teaching fundamentals, she layers in choices and pressure.

If you're going to train at a high level, players must buy in. Levy is clear: “We recruit energy. We don’t want to coach energy and effort—that’s an athlete’s responsibility.” One of the clearest expressions of that standard is her insistence on “No spa D.” Spa defense is letting the other team feel comfortable and do whatever they want. Levy says, “We’re here to get after people and make them uncomfortable.” She’s also adjusted her own mindset over time. Where she once thought, “This is the year we have a shot to win,” she now says, “You have to find a way, and every year could be the year… it’s never anybody’s year.” Finally, she’s learned not to chase change for her athletes. “Players are ready to get better and learn when they’re ready to get better and learn,” she says. Her message: “This is what you need to do—but you let me know when you're ready, because I can’t convince you.”

Jenny Levy sums up her coaching philosophy with one simple statement: “I coach like who I am as a human.”

If you’d like to take a deeper dive into her mindset and methods, check out these excellent interviews:

First class lacrosse (1:09:40)

Inside Carolina Interviews (38:37)

In Japan, railway employees can be seen pointing at the things they need to check and then naming them out loud as they do them. Shisa kanko (literally “checking and calling”) is a conversation conductors hold with themselves to ensure that nothing gets overlooked. In use for over 100 years, they have observed an 85% drop in mistakes compared to those who do not use it. Similarly, pilots have long utilized pre-flight checklists to ensure that a plane is airworthy. Surgeons use a surgical safety checklist to protect patients at three critical points—before administering anesthesia, before the incision, and before the patient leaves the operating room. When it comes to performance, we can use the same principle: intentional routines and verbal cues help us stay focused, reduce errors, and build confidence under pressure.

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