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

Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt, Loyola University Chicago's longtime chaplain for the men's basketball program, is retiring due to health concerns, the school confirmed this month. Schmidt has served as team chaplain since 1994 and became a national figure during Loyola's 2018 Final Four run, when the Ramblers' unlikely deep run elevated her status from campus celebrity to a symbol of the program's character.

Christian Anderson, Loyola's vice president for communications, told The Loyola Phoenix that Schmidt will no longer serve in official duties and declined to share further health details. "Sister Jean is retiring and stepping back from official duties at Loyola," Anderson said. "We are mindful of Sister’s privacy in regards to health and can’t comment beyond what was mentioned in her [Aug. 21] message."

On her Aug. 21 birthday, Schmidt issued a message to Loyola's student body explaining her absence on campus. "Birthdays are special days, and this one is also very special. In fact, I am unable to be there because I have a bad summer cold and other health issues so it has been decided that I should not go to Lake Shore Campus to be with you on my birthday. That makes me very sad, but you can still celebrate."

Schmidt joined Loyola's athletics community in 1994 and quickly became a beloved figure around the Ramblers. Her profile rose during Loyola's 2018 Final Four run, which brought national attention to her role as a source of support and continuity for players and coaches. In 2023, at age 103, she traveled to New York for the Ramblers' first-round matchup in the Atlantic 10 Conference tournament, marking another milestone in her decades-long involvement with the program. During that trip, she appeared on Fox & Friends, joking about her longevity and the three things she attributes to living a long, healthy life.

Schmidt has long attributed her vitality to simple routines. "Well, I tell people when they ask me that question that I eat well, I sleep well and, hopefully, I pray well," she said in that appearance. "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."

Her retirement comes as she turns 106, a milestone noted by Loyola officials and Ramblers fans alike. The university said it would keep her privacy about health a priority and that Schmidt will continue to be honored by the program in informal settings.

Earlier this year, Loyola's men's basketball team posted a lighthearted apology after a viral clip that appeared to snub Schmidt, illustrating the enduring affection the program continues to feel for its longtime chaplain. The development and Schmidt's retirement reflect the enduring influence she has wielded across Loyola's basketball culture for three decades. The Associated Press contributed to this report.