Loyola to honor Sister Jean with jersey patch during 2025–26 season originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Loyola men’s basketball will carry a piece of its heart onto the court this season.
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The Ramblers announced that they will wear a commemorative patch honoring the late Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt, the beloved team chaplain who passed away earlier this month at age 106.
The gold circular patch featuring Sister Jean’s likeness will appear on the upper right shoulder of Loyola’s jerseys throughout the 2025–26 campaign. It stands as a visible reminder of her decades of devotion to the university and her role as the spiritual center of the Ramblers’ program.
Sister Jean became a national figure during Loyola’s Cinderella run to the 2018 Final Four, captivating the country with her pregame prayers, optimism and ever-present smile. Yet for those inside the program, her influence reached far beyond March Madness. She attended nearly every home game well into her 100s, writing personal notes to players, offering scouting advice and reminding them to “play hard, play smart and play together.”
Head coach Drew Valentine reflected on her life and impact in a statement released by the school after her passing.
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“Sister Jean lived an amazing life, and I’ve been fortunate to spend the last nine years with her at Loyola. …We will miss her, but the memories and energy she brought to this program will live on with us through this season and into the future of Rambler Basketball.”
Former Loyola and current Oklahoma head coach Porter Moser, who led the Ramblers to that Final Four run, also paid tribute.
“She had time for everyone. She had a kind word for everyone. She listened and gave encouragement to everyone. She had true self-purpose to help others. What a legacy to leave behind.”
The Ramblers open their season next Monday at home against Cleveland State, where the new patch will make its debut inside Gentile Arena — and Sister Jean’s presence will still be felt courtside.
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