University of Oklahoma men’s basketball coach Porter Moser offered a fond remembrance of Loyola-Chicago super fan Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt, who died on Thursday at the age of 106.
Moser spent 10 seasons as head coach for the Ramblers, including during the two deep NCAA tournament runs that introduced the nation to Sister Jean, the program’s chaplain and an ever-present figure donning a scarf featuring the program’s maroon and gold colors.
‘As we all mourn the death of our dear friend Sister Jean, my heart is sad but also filled with joy and gratitude for my time spent with her and the impact she had on my life and so many others,’ Moser wrote in a message posted to social media on Friday, Oct. 10.
‘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.’
‘I will be talking about Sister Jean for years to come,’ Moser continued. ‘Her unparalleled positivity and energy for life. To the best of my ability, I will be sharing her purpose to help others.’
Moser arrived at Loyola-Chicago in 2011, taking over a program that had been waiting 26 seasons to get back to the Big Dance. While the Ramblers struggled to a 32-61 record in the Naperville, Illinois native’s first three seasons, better times were ahead.
A CBI championship at the end of the 2014-15 season was eventually followed by an incredible 2017-18 run, during which Loyola-Chicago won the Missouri Valley Conference title. Seeded 11th in the NCAA tournament, the Ramblers captured the nation’s attention with three consecutive nail-biting wins over Miami, Tennessee and Nevada before a fourth upset, of Kansas State, sent the team to its first Final Four since 1963.
Sister Jean was along for the wild ride, becoming one of the stars of the tournament in part due to her leading the team in basketball-influenced pregame prayers. The same dynamic played out in 2021, when the Ramblers — in what turned out to be Moser’s final season with the program — went on a run to the Sweet 16 that included an upset of No. 1 seed Illinois.
Former Loyola-Chicago coach Moser’s remembrance of Sister Jean
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