University of NC - Chapel Hill

UNC Athletic Department
P.O. Box 2126 Chapel Hill, NC 27515

Division 1 North Carolina Southeast

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Jenny Levy

Entering her 30th season as the North Carolina head coach in 2024-25, Hall of Famer Jenny Levy is without question among the best coaches in women’s lacrosse history.

Jenny Levy – Career at a Glance:

Entering her 30th season in Spring 2025

Career Record: 421-130 (.764)

North Carolina Record: Same

ACC Record: 103-35 (.742)

National Lacrosse Hall of Fame (inducted 2021)

USA Lacrosse Foundation Gala honoree (2023)

U.S. National Team Head Coach (2017-22)

Three NCAA national titles (2013, 2016, 2022)

Seven ACC titles (2002, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022)

Three-time IWLCA National Coach of the Year (2013, 2016, 2022)

Seven-time ACC Coach of the Year (1997, 2002, 2010, 2016, 2019, 2021, 2022)

117 All-ACC selections

64 players with All-America honors

14 National Player of the Year winners

11 ACC Player of the Year winners

10 Tewaaraton Award finalists

Three NCAA Tournament MVPs

Two Honda Award winners

North Carolina Career

The only head coach in UNC women’s lacrosse history, Levy built the Tar Heel program from scratch. She was named its first head coach in October 1994.

Over the past 29 completed seasons, Levy has guided Carolina to:

25 NCAA Tournament bids (including 19 straight from 2005-present)

42 NCAA Tournament wins (tied for second all-time by a head coach)

13 NCAA Tournament semifinal appearances (tied for third all-time)

Three NCAA championship titles (tied for third all-time by a school, fourth all-time by a head coach)

10 ACC regular season titles, including seven outright

Seven ACC Tournament titles (most by a head coach, second-most by a school)

Levy became only the fourth coach in women’s lacrosse history to win an NCAA championship as a player (with Virginia in 1991) and as a head coach. She is one of only five head coaches to win three or more NCAA titles.

On March 3, 2023, Levy achieved her 400th career victory. She ranks third all-time in NCAA Division I women’s lacrosse history and second among active DI head coaches for career wins. She also became just the sixth head coach across all three divisions to ever reach the 400 threshold.

Less than two weeks later on March 16, 2023, Levy met another milestone: her 100th Atlantic Coast Conference victory. She became the first women’s lacrosse coach in ACC history to reach the century mark. As of that day, no other coach in league history had more than 67 conference wins.

Levy guided the Tar Heels to its first NCAA title in program history in 2013. The team beat defending national champion Northwestern, 11-4, in the semifinals before downing top-ranked Maryland, 13-12, in three overtimes in one of the most exhilarating games in the sport’s history.

Carolina was crowned national champion again in 2016, winning its second ACC title in school history which sparked a streak of six straight that would last through 2022. UNC held off Penn State, 12-11, in the semifinals before again knocking off Maryland, 13-7, in the final. It was the Terrapins’ largest margin of defeat in nine years.

North Carolina posted a storybook season in 2022 under Levy’s leadership. The Tar Heels set a program record 22 wins for its first-ever undefeated season, winning its sixth-straight ACC title and third NCAA title. After a thrilling 15-14 comeback win over Northwestern in the semifinals, top-seeded UNC held off Boston College, 12-11 for the crown.

UNC produced the NCAA Tournament MVP in each of its three national championship victories: Kara Cannizzaro in 2013, Aly Messinger in 2016 and Sam Geiersbach in 2022. Levy was named IWLCA National Coach of the Year following all three national titles.

In addition to their success on the national stage, Levy and the Tar Heels have also solidified themselves as an ACC powerhouse. The team has reached the ACC championship game 16 times overall – including 12 of the past 14 – and has won seven titles. Levy’s seven is most by a head coach in league history.

UNC’s six titles in a row from 2016-22 (no tournament in 2020 due to COVID-19) is tied for the longest streak in ACC history. The Tar Heels won 20 straight ACC Tournament games from 2016-2023, the longest streak in the event’s history.

Prior to arriving in Chapel Hill, Levy served as an assistant lacrosse and assistant field hockey coach at Georgetown University from 1993-95.

U.S. National Team Career

Levy was appointed head coach of the United States National Team on November 9, 2017. A former USA Lacrosse Board of Directors member, she oversaw the efforts of the U.S. team toward the 2022 World Lacrosse Women's World Championship.

She guided the U.S. to the gold medal at the 2022 World Championships from June 29-July 9 in Towson, Maryland. It was the fourth-consecutive time, and first on home soil, Team USA had been crowned world champion, and the first time a host country had ever captured gold.

Levy’s U.S. squad finished the tournament undefeated at 8-0 while an 11-8 victory over Canada sealed the gold medal. Four of her players were named to the All-World Team, including former Tar Heel standout Marie McCool (‘18).

Including McCool, six Carolina players were on Team USA’s 18-person roster, the most of any school in the nation: Molly Hendrick ('17), Ally Mastroianni (‘21), Emily Garrity Parros (‘13), Emma Trenchard (‘22) and Caylee Waters (‘17).

Four former Tar Heels in Kristen Carr (‘10), Marie McCool (‘18) Jen Russell (‘10) , Laura Zimmerman (‘12) also won gold medals for the U.S. at the 2017 World Cup in Guildford, England.

As a player, Levy (then known as Jenny Slingluff) was a member of the U.S. National Team in 1991. She was part of the USA Developmental Team from 1994-95, winning gold at the World Cup in 1995.

Collegiate Career

Levy (née Slingluff) graduated from the University of Virginia in 1992 with a bachelor’s degree in rhetoric and communications. She was a standout attacker for the Cavaliers from 1988-1992.

She led UVA to the 1991 NCAA championship, the program’s first national title. She was the leading scorer during the 1991 NCAA Tournament with eight goals, two assists and 10 points, including five goals in the semifinals and three in the title game. She was named the Most Outstanding Attacker and was tabbed to the All-Tournament Team.

A two-time First Team All-America selection, she was named the IWLCA Player of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year in 1992. She earned IWLCA All-South Region First Team honors three times and was team captain as a senior.

In 2002, she was named one of the top 50 players in ACC women’s lacrosse history. She was also inducted into the Charlottesville Hall of Fame in 2017.

Personal

She married Dan Levy of Baltimore, Maryland, in June 1998. Dan, who graduated from UNC in 1993, played lacrosse for the Tar Heels from 1990-93. An attackman, he starred on the 1991 NCAA championship team and was named the ACC Tournament MVP as a senior.

The couple has three children: Ryan (born January 2002), Alec (both September 2003) and Kathryn "Kate" (born July 2006). Ryan will be a senior on the UNC men’s lacrosse team while Alec will be a sophomore on the team in 2024-25. Kate has committed to UNC to play under her mother and will enter her freshman year in Fall 2024.

Levy was formally inducted in the USA Lacrosse National Hall of Fame in 2021, with the ceremony being held in 2022. She was also honored at the USA Lacrosse Foundation Gala in June 2023.

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Phil Barnes

One of the nation’s most experienced assistant coaches and a keen-eyed recruiter, Phil Barnes has been a key part of Carolina’s women’s lacrosse success since 2004. He will enter his 22nd season on staff in 2024-25.

Barnes works with the Tar Heel defense and goalkeepers while also heading up the program’s recruiting efforts. In 2012 and 2022, he was named the IWLCA Assistant Coach of the Year.

Barnes’ defensive tutelage has paid off for the Tar Heels. In 2009, Logan Ripley earned National Goalkeeper of the Year honors and Amber Falcone was named the National Defender of the Year. Jen Russell was named National Defender of the Year in 2010. Caylee Waters was the 2015 National Goalie of the Year, and Waters shared National Goalie of the Year honors with teammate Megan Ward in 2016. Taylor Moreno was tabbed National Goalkeeper of the Year in 2021, with Emma Trenchard being named National Defender of the Year in 2022.

Two of the gold-medal-winning 2017 U.S. National Team’s defenders were former Tar Heel defenders: Kristen Carr (‘10) and Jen Russell (‘10). Trenchard ('22) won gold under head coach Jenny Levy's U.S. squad at the 2022 World Championships.

Barnes is a former head coach at Holy Cross and the University of Massachusetts who also has coached prep lacrosse.

He was the head coach at UMass for three seasons (2000-02), capturing the Atlantic 10 regular-season and tournament championships and leading the nation in scoring defense in 2000.

Barnes was an assistant coach at UMass during the 1998 and ’99 seasons prior to taking over as head coach. He was also the head coach at the College of the Holy Cross during the 1996 and 1997 seasons, earning Patriot League Coach-of-the-Year honors in ‘96.

Barnes earned a B.A. in history from Assumption College in 1998. He is a native of Milford, N.H.

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Marie McCool

One of the most decorated players in the history of University of North Carolina women’s lacrosse, Marie McCool returned to Chapel Hill as an assistant coach ahead of the 2023 season. Previously serving as the volunteer assistant coach in 2021, she will officially enter her third season on staff in Spring 2025.

McCool was a standout midfielder during her Tar Heel career from 2015-18. Among many awards and honors, she was the first two-time Tewaaraton Award finalist in UNC history and the first player in the Atlantic Coast Conference to be named the ACC Midfielder of the Year twice.

She was also tabbed the National Midfielder of the Year by IWLCA in 2018, earned first-team All-America honors three times and was a three-time All-ACC honoree. She was the recipient of the Patterson Medal as a senior, the most prestigious athletic honor awarded at North Carolina.

“We are beyond excited to welcome back such an accomplished alumna of our program to join our coaching staff,” said UNC head coach Jenny Levy. “Marie is one of our all-time best players who loves the game, and her wealth of experience will benefit our student-athletes in countless ways. A proven winner, she has a great mind for the sport and will be able to coach our players at an elite level.”

McCool owns Carolina’s single-season record for most draw controls with 165, also ranking fifth all-time with 246 career points. She was named the 2016 ACC Tournament MVP and helped lead the Tar Heels to three-straight conference titles (2016-18). She had a goal and two assists in the 2016 NCAA Tournament to help UNC win the national title, and twice landed on the All-NCAA Tournament team.

A native of Moorestown, N.J., she graduated from UNC in 2018 with a bachelor’s degree in management and society. She was selected the ACC Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 2017 – the only Tar Heel in program history to win the accolade – and was a three-time All-ACC Academic Team honoree. She was also team captain as a senior.

Prior to her senior year at UNC, McCool was one of just two college players on the United States’ roster for the 2017 World Cup. She scored twice during the title game to help the U.S. win the gold medal before securing yet another gold at the 2017 World Games that summer.

In July 2022, McCool once again competed for Team USA at the 2022 World Championship and led the team to its fourth-consecutive title under Levy, who is the U.S. National Team head coach. She was named to the All-World Team after totaling 20 goals, four assists, 24 points and 17 draw controls throughout the 11-day championship.

McCool has played in the Athletes Unlimited professional women’s lacrosse league since its founding in 2021.

She married Kevin Rice in August 2023.

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Maiah Bartlett

Maiah Bartlett enters her first year as an assistant coach for University of North Carolina women’s lacrosse ahead of the 2024-25 season, bringing with her ample coaching experience at the collegiate and international levels.

“We are thrilled to welcome Maiah to Chapel Hill. Her passion for the sport of lacrosse runs deep, and she is equally passionate about developing players off the field. Her experience coaching collegiately and internationally will contribute tremendous insight and perspective for our team. Maiah will undoubtedly help continue to elevate Carolina Lacrosse and we couldn't be happier she's joining our staff."

Bartlett arrived in Chapel Hill having most recently been the assistant men’s lacrosse coach at Denison University from 2021-24. During her time in Granville, Ohio, she served as the faceoff coach, offensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator.

Overseeing the face-off specialists’ development by implementing a position-specific training program, Bartlett coached her athletes to a .667 average faceoff winning percentage over three years. In 2022, Denison achieved its second-best faceoff percentage in program history at .708.

Additionally, Bartlett’s other duties at Denison included developing the offensive identity by creating play designs and set pieces, leading team film sessions, handling travel logistics, assisting in curating comprehensive game plans, spearheading recruiting efforts and organizing fundraising efforts, among others.

With Bartlett on staff, the Big Red won three consecutive NCAC regular season and tournament titles, advancing to at least the second round of the NCAA DIII Tournament each year. She helped coach athletes to a combined six NCAC player-of-the-year awards, 37 All-NCAC honorees, three NCAC Tournament MVPs, 20 All-America selections, 12 IMLCA All-Region picks, five USILA Senior All-Stars and six Top-50 Scholar-Athletes.

Off the field, she also served as the advisor for Denison’s Diversity and Inclusion Athletic Advisory Group, acting as a liaison between the student organization and university administration by providing guidance and support for diversity and inclusion initiatives.

Prior to her time at Denison, Bartlett spent four years overseas as the head coach of SC 1880 Frankfurt e.V. where she ran six programs in the Frankfurt, Germany, area. She guided her team to the U-16 boys and girls German championships in 2019 as well as a third-place finish in the 2018 Men’s German Championship. She also facilitated the transition from U-20 men's and women's programs into the first league.

Bartlett was the assistant coach for the German Women’s National Team’s development program from 2017-18. Her primary role was helping in the growth of the development program by identifying talent. The national team competed in the 2018 European Lacrosse Federation Easter Tournament and the 2018 Berlin Open.

The first female head coach of a men’s national team, Bartlett joined the Luxembourg Men’s National Team as an assistant coach before being promoted to head coach in 2020, a position she held for two years. She was responsible for all aspects of the program, including practice planning, game preparation and recruitment, and ran training camps in preparation for international competition.

Bartlett saw a standout career as a defender at the University of Mary Washington from 2013-17 and was named team captain as a senior. She was a three-time All-Capital Athletic Conference selection, three-time IWLCA All-Chesapeake Region pick and three-time VaSID College Division All-State honoree.

She led the Eagles to three NCAA Tournament appearances and was selected to play in the 2017 USILA All-Star game. Also excelling in the classroom, Bartlett garnered CAC All-Academic praise all four years and was twice named to the IWLCA Academic Honor Roll.

The Lexington, Virginia native received her bachelor’s degree in geography from Mary Washington in May 2017. She recently earned her master’s of education in educational, school and counseling psychology with an emphasis in positive coaching and athletic leadership from the University of Missouri.