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Sister Jean, Beloved Loyola Men’s Basketball Team Chaplain, Dies at 106

Tom Dierberger

Sister Jean watches a game between the Loyola Ramblers and the Ohio State Buckeyes during the first round of the 2022 NCAA tournament at PPG Paints Arena.
Sister Jean watches a game between the Loyola Ramblers and the Ohio State Buckeyes during the first round of the 2022 NCAA tournament at PPG Paints Arena. / Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
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The college basketball world has lost a beloved figure.

Jean Dolores Schmidt, the renowned chaplain of the Loyola University Chicago men’s basketball team known as “Sister Jean,” has died at the age of 106 years old. Loyola officially announced the news on social media Thursday night.

“Loyola University Chicago is greatly saddened to confirm the death of SisterJean Dolores Schmidt, BVM,” the university said in a statement. “This is a tremendous loss of someone who touched the lives of so many people. We appreciate everyone’s thoughts & prayers during this difficult time.”

Sister Jean, who turned 106 years old in September, recently announced she would be stepping away from the university and retiring from her on-campus duties due to health issues. She worked for over 60 years at Loyola in a variety of roles.

Sister Jean first rose to national popularity during the Loyola men’s basketball team’s Cinderella run to the Final Four in 2018. The Catholic nun, then 98 years old, was spotted on the sidelines cheering on the Ramblers, who cruised through the South Region as a No. 11 seed.

“What this [fame] all did to my life, I just went with the flow, I guess, and did everything that people were asking me to do,” Sister Jean told Sports Illustrated’s Madison Williams in 2023. “If it’s doing some good for my congregation and for Loyola, then I’ll go for it.”

And go for it she did.

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Tom Dierberger
TOM DIERBERGER

Tom Dierberger is a staff writer and editor on the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated. He joined SI in November 2023 after stints at FOX Sports, Bally Sports and NBC Sports. Dierberger has a bachelor's in communication from St. John's University. In his spare time, he can be seen throwing out his arm while playing fetch with his dog, Walter B. Boy.

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