Culture Is How It Feels. Standards Are What You Uphold.

On Sunday, the North Carolina Tar Heels women’s lacrosse team capped a historic 22-0 season with a 12-8 win over Northwestern, securing the program’s fourth NCAA championship.

At the helm of this unbeaten run? Legendary head coach Jenny Levy.

In 1994, at just 24 years old, Levy became one of the youngest head coaches in the sport when she took over a brand-new program at UNC. Three decades later, she remains the only head coach in the program’s history — and has transformed it into a national powerhouse. Her coaching legacy features eight ACC titles, four national championships, and a reputation as one of the most respected builders of culture in collegiate athletics.

This year’s title run carried an even deeper meaning: her daughter, Kate — a freshman on the team — was playing under her guidance.

Few understand the evolution of excellence better than Coach Levy. She’s witnessed the sport grow, the expectations of student-athletes shift, and the demands on leadership intensify.

And yet, amid all the change, two principles have remained non-negotiable in sustaining elite performance: Culture and standards.

In a conversation with First Class Lacrosse, Coach Levy broke down the tension — and the necessity — of both: “Our culture is one thing and our standards are another. Those two don’t always coexist nice. Culture is how it feels. Personality. The chaos around the program or lack thereof. And your standards are meant to make you uncomfortable. If you want to be great, they’re going to push you to be your best. To be your best isn’t going to be comfortable... Those two things coexist in our program, and it’s not easy.”

It’s a reality many leaders overlook. We strive to build uplifting cultures — where people feel valued, seen, connected, supported — but we can’t confuse warmth with comfort or harmony with high performance. A great culture without clear, enforced standards leads to mediocrity masked by good vibes.

“If you get culture and standards right,” Levy adds, “you are going to climb the ladder as a team. However, if you get lots of great culture with little to no standards, you’re not going to achieve where you need to achieve.”

This is a mirror moment for any leader, executive, or coach:

• Are we building environments where people feel a sense of belonging — but are also pushed with grace?

• Are our standards visible in how we prepare, communicate, and show up?

• Are we willing to hold the line when it’s easier to bend?

Excellence isn’t just about what we say — it’s about what we uphold when no one’s watching. Greatness doesn’t live in one or the other. It lives in the tension between both the culture and the standards.

Coach Levy offers timely and timeless advice that isn’t dependent on slogans — but on consistent alignment. She isn’t just building a team. She’s building an organizational system that demands greatness and makes space for humanity.

So today, let’s reflect not just on the culture we’re building — but the standards we’re actually living and leading by.

Because when culture and standards coexist — even imperfectly — excellence, high performance, and championships tend to follow.

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