Sister Jean to Be Honored by Loyola Chicago MCBB Team With Jersey Patch

The Loyola Chicago men's basketball team will honor the legendary Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt, its former team chaplain who died on Oct. 9 at the age of 106, with a jersey patch for the 2025-26 season.

Sister Jean became an overnight sensation during the 2018 NCAA tournament, when the No. 11 seed Ramblers went on an amazing Cinderella run to the Final Four. That stretch included three straight wins to start the tournament against No. 6 Miami, No. 3 Tennessee and No. 7 Nevada by a combined four points.

Sister Jean, a Catholic nun, joined Mundelein College in 1961. She then joined Loyola Chicago in 1991 after Mundelein merged with the school.

In 1994, she served as the men's basketball team's academic advisor before becoming the team chaplain.

"In many roles at Loyola over the course of more than 60 years, Sister Jean was an invaluable source of wisdom and grace for generations of students, faculty, and staff," Loyola President Mark C. Reed said. "While we feel grief and a sense of loss, there is great joy in her legacy. Her presence was a profound blessing for our entire community and her spirit abides in thousands of lives. In her honor, we can aspire to share with others the love and compassion Sister Jean shared with us."

Sister Jean had recently retired as team chaplain and removed herself from responsibilities on campus due to health reasons.

Per Loyola Today, Sister Jean was well-accomplished outside of her role with the basketball team, notably beginning a program called SMILE (Students Moving Into the Lives of the Elderly) that paired Loyola students with residents of The Clare, an assisted living community where she stayed.

Pope Francis gave her an Apostolic Blessing on her 100th birthday. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot gave her proclamations after the Loyola CTA Red Line plaza was renamed in her honor.

In addition, President Joe Biden gave her a proclamation on her 105th birthday for her lifetime of service.

Sister Jean certainly was an icon, and now her beloved team will honor her legacy this season.