Jenny Levy didn’t have to look far for inspiration when she was considering applying to become the head coach of the U.S. women’s national team.

Her colleague at the University of North Carolina, Anson Dorrance, was the head coach of the U.S. women’s soccer team at a pivotal stage of growth and development in that sport.

“I have spent a lot of time talking to him about those early years and his vision, challenges and actions that ultimately changed U.S. women's soccer forever,” said Levy, who was announced as the Team USA women’s lacrosse coach yesterday. “It wasn't until 1996 that women's soccer became an Olympic sport and in 1999, the U.S. captured the heart of the nation when they packed the Rose Bowl with 90,000 people and won gold in the World Cup. I still remember where I was when Brandi Chastain ripped the final penalty shot.

“It is easy to look back and say women's soccer growth and success is a no-brainer, but at the time, no-one thought it would become what it is today.”

Lacrosse could be at a similar juncture.

The sport had its first exposure to an Olympic-style event with the inclusion of women’s lacrosse in The World Games last summer in Poland. Playing in the multi-sport event, the U.S. captured gold over Canada and gave officials from other sports and international delegations their first up-close look at the sport.

The FIL, which had less than 20 nations competing for world titles at the beginning of the century, now has nearly 60 members. The organization hired former U.S. Olympic Committee CEO Jim Scherr as its first full-time CEO earlier this year.

“I think lacrosse is an ideal Olympic sport,” Scherr said. "It’s a great sport. It’s visually exciting, it’s growing around the world — huge presence in the U.S. market, which is the key market for the Olympic family. Not only that, but the values associated with the sport are tremendous."

With Los Angeles in line to host the 2028 Summer Olympics, there is more cause for optimism that the United States’ fastest-growing team sport might soon find itself on a larger stage.

That fuels Levy.

“I am inspired by the pioneers, the '99er's, and the journey of U.S. women's soccer,” Levy said. “I feel the time is right for lacrosse to pursue the Olympic dream and it is my honor to serve through this exciting time. The players and the game are ready for more.”

There’s a strong base in place. The U.S. women’s national team has won eight of 10 FIL World Cups since 1982. Levy’s North Carolina players represented a major factor in that success. In the last decade, 17 of her players have played on the national team, including Kristen Carr, Marie McCool, Jen Russell and Laura Zimmerman on this year’s World Cup team.

US Lacrosse long has made efforts and strides to connect the U19 team to the senior team and this year’s gold-medal winning World Cup team featured three players — Sarah Bullard, Ally Carey and Kayla Treanor — who had previously won gold medals on U19 teams.

Levy will be charged with taking the next step with the launch of the National Teams Development Program. The program aims to create a pipeline from the youth level to the U19 team up to the senior team.

As the only coach in North Carolina history, she has plenty of experience in building a program. In 22 seasons, she’s won more than 300 games, taken Carolina to the NCAA tournament 19 teams and won national championships in 2013 and 2016.

“At Carolina, we always talk about leaving something better than you found it — leave a legacy, take risks and be bold,” Levy said in the school’s press release announcing her hiring as the national team coach. “What a great opportunity for me to demonstrate these things to my own kids and our Carolina players.”

And that’s another impetus for her taking on this challenge. Levy, who volunteers on the US Lacrosse Board of Directors, wants to give back to the sport; and its unique community.

She points to seeing how people rallied around and supported the family of a North Carolina men’s lacrosse player who passed away, and the success of programs like Harlem Lacrosse that rely on the generosity and commitment of so many.

“There are so many amazing things that happen in our sport that I don’t see in other sports,” Levy said. “I want to help grow the sport and open it to more people, but keep it personal.”