Sister Jean retires as Loyola Chicago basketball chaplain due to health concerns

Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt, the Loyola University Chicago men's basketball chaplain, is retiring at 106 due to health concerns, the school confirmed this week. Schmidt has served as the Ramblers' chaplain since 1994 and has become a fixture in the program and its broader fan base, a presence that transcended basketball and became part of Loyola's identity.

The Loyola Phoenix, the school's student newspaper, reported the retirement and said vice president of communications Christian Anderson confirmed that Schmidt would no longer fulfill official duties. He did not expand on the health concerns cited in Schmidt's August message beyond noting the family's request for privacy. In a note to the student body on her 106th birthday, Schmidt explained her absence from campus because of a “bad summer cold and other health issues” and said she was saddened not to be with students but invited them to celebrate in her absence.

Schmidt's public profile rose during Loyola's improbable Final Four run in the 2018 NCAA tournament, a moment that cemented her as a symbol of the Ramblers' unexpected ascent. She traveled to New York in 2023 for the team’s first-round matchup in the Atlantic 10 Conference tournament, at age 103. During that trip, she appeared on Fox & Friends and shared the simple guidance she framed as keys to a long life. "Well, I tell people when they ask me that question that I eat well, I sleep well and, hopefully, I pray well," she said. "My basketball team, it keeps me young. All these young people keep me young at heart. I can’t walk, but they keep me young at heart."

The Loyola community has long viewed Schmidt as more than a ceremonial figure. Her presence has been described as a source of warmth and continuity for players, coaches and fans alike, a living link to Loyola's mid-20th-century roots and its modern successes. Her retirement marks the end of a 30-year tenure as chaplain, a span that encompassed a period of dramatic visibility for the program, including a historic Final Four appearance and sustained NCAA tournament attention. The university and supporters alike are expected to honor her decades of service in the weeks ahead, though officials have emphasized Schmidt’s privacy regarding health matters.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.