Two Tar Heels joined a prestigious group of North Carolinians on Friday, as the governor welcomed a group of inductees to the state’s Order of the Long Leaf Pine.

Gov. Josh Stein hosted a celebration on Friday for six “exceptional” athletes and coaches to join the ranks of North Carolina’s highest honorary society — which included UNC women’s lacrosse head coach Jenny Levy and former UNC and U.S. women’s soccer star Heather O’Reilly. The award is given to those who make “significant contributions to the state and their communities through their exemplary service and exceptional accomplishments.”

Levy, who is entering her 31st year leading the Tar Heel program, is a member of the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame and a four-time national champion, with her team having earned the 2025 national title. Having built the UNC program from scratch as its only head coach, she sits second in all-time wins for the sport and served as the head coach for the U.S. National Team during a five-year stretch that delivered gold and silver medal finishes at the 2017 and 2022 World Games.

O’Reilly, meanwhile, was a two-time national champion while suiting up for the Anson Dorrance’s UNC program — winning the title her freshman (2003) and senior (2006) seasons en route to winning the 2006 Honda Sports Award for women’s soccer. She continued her excellence with the U.S. women’s national team, winning a U-19 World Cup before being a contributor on the 2015 World Cup-winning senior team. O’Reilly also continued to play in North Carolina as a member of the NWSL’s North Carolina Courage, winning a title with the club team before retiring briefly in 2019.

“These exceptional athletes and coaches have strengthened our state through their outstanding achievements and their leadership on and off the field and court,” Governor Stein said in a release about all six of the honorees. “I am proud to honor their contributions to our state in the field of athletics.”

Alongside a being able to lead the North Carolina Toast at events, members of the Order of the Long Leaf Pine receive a certificate signed by the North Carolina governor — which confers the recipient “the rank of Ambassador Extraordinary” representing the state with their civic leadership.

Levy and O’Reilly are just the latest UNC community members to be recognized by Stein’s office so far in 2025. Field hockey head coach Erin Matson was inducted into the Order of the Long Leaf Pine alongside Carolina professor Jim Johnson in April, while former UNC men’s basketball star Phil Ford was granted the honor in June. Stein also announced former men’s basketball head coach and UNC icon Roy Williams will be given the North Carolina Award in November for his public service to the state.

Other inductees from Friday’s Order of the Long Leaf Pine ceremony included:

  • Torry Holt, the former N.C. State and Super Bowl-winning wide receiver and current Vice President of Holt Brothers Construction
  • Elliott Avent, the N.C. State baseball coach
  • LeVelle Moton, the N.C. Central men’s basketball coach
  • Jordan Staal, the Carolina Hurricanes’ team captain

 

Featured photo via the Office of Governor Josh Stein.

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