Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt, who became a sports icon as the chaplain of the Loyola University Chicago men’s basketball team and shared life lessons in a 2023 book, has died at 106, the New York Times reports.

Sister Jean was born and raised in San Francisco and educated at Mount St. Mary’s University and Loyola Marymount University. She became a nun in the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary and started working at Loyola University Chicago in 1991. Three years later, she was named chaplain for the Ramblers men’s basketball team.

She was popular with her student players and found nationwide sports celebrity in 2018, when the Ramblers upset the University of Miami Hurricanes in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. She retired last month, citing health issues.

In 2023, Sister Jean published a book, Wake Up With Purpose!: What I’ve Learned in My First Hundred Years, co-authored with Seth Davis. The book recounts her experiences as a teacher and as the Ramblers’ chaplain. A critic for Kirkus called the book “a pleasure for college basketball fans, especially those of religious inclination.”

Sister Jean’s admirers paid tribute to her on social media. On the platform X, former President Barack Obama posted, “March Madness won’t be the same without Sister Jean. Thinking about the Loyola University Chicago community and everyone who loved this remarkable woman.”

And CBS sports reporter Tracy Wolfson wrote, “Sad news to wake up to this morning. Honored to have spent time around Sister Jean. She was truly amazing. R.I.P.”

Michael Schaub is a contributing writer.