Roger Cador, the legendary Southern University baseball coach who helped transform HBCU baseball and mentored generations of student-athletes, has died at the age of 74 after battling brain cancer.
Southern University announced Cador’s death on June 30, prompting an outpouring of tributes from former players, coaches and members of the Jaguar community. University leaders remembered him as far more than a successful coach, describing him as a visionary, mentor and one of the most influential figures in the history of Southern athletics.
Cador’s connection to Southern University began as a student-athlete in the early 1970s, when he played both baseball and basketball for the Jaguars.
He led the baseball team with a .393 batting average in 1972 before being selected by the Atlanta Braves in the 1973 Major League Baseball Draft. After spending five seasons in the Braves organization, he returned to his alma mater to begin a coaching career that would leave a lasting mark on college baseball.
In 1985, Cador became head coach of the Southern Jaguars baseball program. Over the next 33 seasons, he built one of the nation’s premier HBCU baseball programs. He retired in 2017 with a remarkable career record of 913 wins, 597 losses and one tie.
His teams captured 14 Southwestern Athletic Conference championships, won two HBCU national championships and made 11 NCAA Tournament appearances. He also coached dozens of professional players, including Golden Spikes Award winner and future Major League Baseball All-Star Rickie Weeks.
Cador’s influence reached well beyond the baseball diamond. He was a passionate advocate for increasing opportunities for Black athletes in baseball and served on Major League Baseball initiatives aimed at growing the sport in underserved communities.
His efforts earned him induction into the American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2022, recognizing both his success as a coach and his impact on the game.
Following news of his passing, current Southern head coach Chris Crenshaw, Athletic Director Roman Banks and Chancellor John K. Pierre praised Cador’s leadership, character and dedication to helping young men succeed in life. Many former players described him as a father figure whose lessons extended far beyond baseball.
Roger Cador leaves behind one of the greatest coaching legacies in HBCU sports.
His commitment to excellence, education and opportunity changed countless lives and helped elevate Southern University into one of the most respected baseball programs in the country.