The HBCU baseball world lost a legend.
Roger Cador, who helped transform Southern University baseball and the college game itself, has died, the school announced on Tuesday.
Cador was 74.
“Coach Roger Cador was far more than a baseball coach — he was a visionary, a mentor, a leader, and a true pillar of the Jaguar Nation,” athletics director Roman Banks said in a statement. “His impact on Southern University and HBCU baseball is immeasurable.”
In 33 seasons as Southern’s head coach, Cador left behind a record of 913-597-1. Under his direction, the Jaguars won two HBCU national championships, 14 Southwestern Athletic Conference titles, and reached 11 NCAA Regionals.
Banks said Cador built a championship culture, developed generations of student-athletes and represented the best of Southern through excellence, pride, commitment, and service.
Roger Cador had an impact far beyond baseball
Southern Chancellor John K. Pierre called Cador a legend whose impact extended far beyond baseball.
“He built one of the nation’s most respected baseball programs while helping to shape generations of young men into leaders,” Pierre said in a statement.
A Louisiana native, Cador played at Southern from 1970-73 and led the Jaguars with a .393 batting average in 1972. He later played in the Atlanta Braves organization from 1973-77, reaching Class AAA with the Richmond Braves.
Cador returned to Southern in 1978 as an assistant coach and later became an assistant basketball coach before taking over the baseball program in 1984. In 1987, he guided Southern to a historic victory over Cal State Fullerton, making the Jaguars the first HBCU program to win an NCAA Regional game.
His teams won HBCU national titles in 2003 and 2005. He also earned 13 SWAC Coach of the Year honors, coached 10 All-Americans, and helped 62 players reach the professional ranks through the MLB Draft.
Among his most notable players was Rickie Weeks, a two-time NCAA batting champion and the 2003 Golden Spikes Award winner. Weeks was selected second overall in the 2003 MLB Draft and went on to play 14 seasons in the major leagues.
Cador was also a longtime advocate for baseball opportunities in underserved communities and played a role in the Urban Baseball Invitational, now the Andre Dawson Classic, which helped spotlight HBCU baseball on ESPN and MLB Network.
His honors include induction into the SWAC Hall of Fame, the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame, the American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame, and the National College Baseball Hall of Fame.
