Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt BVM (1919–2025), born Dolores Bertha Schmidt, was far more than Loyola Chicago’s beloved basketball chaplain — she was a lifelong educator, civil rights advocate, and spiritual mentor who lived over a century with deep purpose.
Born in San Francisco in 1919, Sister Jean felt drawn to religious life by the age of eight. She entered the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (BVM) in 1937, inspired by the joyful demeanor of the nuns who had taught her. Before ever stepping foot in Chicago, she was already a dedicated teacher and coach in California, educating young students in English, coaching girls’ basketball, and attending college on weekends and summers to earn degrees from Mount St. Mary’s College and Loyola University of Los Angeles.
In 1961, she joined the faculty of Mundelein College in Chicago, where she taught education and helped form women leaders at a time when few Catholic institutions prioritized female empowerment. She remained through its 1991 merger with Loyola University, taking on roles in student services and athletics. A behind-the-scenes powerhouse, Sister Jean created scouting reports for Loyola’s basketball coaches and offered postgame emails filled with encouragement and feedback, blending strategy with spirituality.
Though she rose to fame during the Ramblers’ 2018 NCAA Final Four run, Sister Jean had long been a social justice advocate. In the 1960s, she marched for civil rights and later worked on campus initiatives focused on racial equity and student support. She was known for holding “office hours” well into her 100s, mentoring students, staff, and athletes alike.
She received dozens of accolades, including Loyola’s Sword of Loyola and a birthday proclamation from President Biden. In 2022, Chicago renamed a transit plaza in her honor. Yet she remained humble, often saying, “I’m not the team. I’m just their sister.”
Sister Jean passed away on October 9, 2025, at age 106 — leaving behind not just memories of buzzer-beaters and courtside prayers, but a legacy of faith, intellect, and unwavering human connection.
Five Quotes from Sister Jean…
1. “Basketball fascinates me. It’s like a game of chess.”
2. “Being mad at God is not the same thing as not believing in Him. You can’t be mad at something that doesn’t exist, right? I believe God expects us to have a relationship with Him, and that relationship has many different dimensions. Like all relationships, it goes through ups and downs and it matures over time. God made us fully human. We’re all sinners. We’re all flawed. He tests our faith for a reason. Getting mad at God is a way of expressing – and keeping – our faith.”
3. “I understand people are concerned about how many immigrants are coming to America, legally and illegally, but I firmly believe these new arrivals need to be educated.”
4. “I’m afraid that too many college communities have become intolerant of different opinions. If a college invites someone to give a guest lecture whom the students don’t like, they will often try to get them disinvited. However, I believe that even it someone says a lot of things we disagree with, oftentimes it’s worth hearing them out.”
5. “Let your dreams become your reality. Don’t let anybody stop you.”
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