Rising to prominence in 2018, Jean Dolores Schmidt, better known as Sister Jean, is five months away from her 102 birthday and arguably the biggest fan of the Loyola Chicago Men’s Basketball Team.
Sister Jean, born in August 1919 to a devout Catholic family, has been the chaplain for the program since 1994, a role where she administers pregame prayers and gives spiritual advice. However, this position morphed into the 101-year-old drafting scouting reports and picking favorites ahead of one of the biggest college sporting events of the year, March Madness.
The religious figure made headlines in this year’s tournament after she was given both of her COVID-19 vaccine doses and awarded a seat to watch her beloved team, No. 8 Loyola-Chicago, wipe the floors with No. 9 Georgia Tech in a solid 71-60 win on Friday.
“I’m feeling fine, especially since I know I’m going to Indy,” she said in an interview earlier this month. “I decided this a long time ago [that I would go to the games] ever since we’ve been playing. The guys and I talked about getting to the big dance floor again.”
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On Sunday, the Loyola Ramblers defeated No. 1 seed Illinois in an upset victory after Sister Jean delivered a pregame prayer.
“As we play the Fighting Illini, we ask for special help to overcome this team and get a great win,” she said. “We hope to score early and make our opponents nervous. We have a great opportunity to convert rebounds as this team makes about 50% of layups and 30% of its 3 points. Our defense can take care of that.”
In 2018, the then 98-year-old nun was featured on an NCAA bobblehead, which broke sales records less than 48 hours after it hit the market as Loyola faced then-No. 3 seed Michigan for a spot in the championship game.
“Be careful, San Antonio, the Ramblers are on their way,” she said after Loyola ousted then-No. 9 seed Kansas State, 78-62, in a previous match.
Unfortunately, the Ramblers did not take the title that year, but Sister Jean was quickly immortalized as a sports icon. A year prior, she was inducted into the Loyola Athletics Hall of Fame.
Off the court, Sister Jean makes a point to say “good morning” to everyone during her rounds in Damen Student Center, and her devotion to God is what drives her everyday life, school officials said.
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“Although it may be true that basketball has brought Sister Jean fame, her true passion remains being a servant of God who has devoted a century to helping others,” Loyola wrote of their beloved “basketball nun.” And whether it be through mentoring basketball players, following the mission of the BVMs to educate, sharing in prayer with a group of students, or just saying hello in the hallway, it is maintaining that connection to college students that still brings Sister Jean the most joy in her life.
