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Athletics Southern University Athletics Strategic Communications

Southern University Athletics Mourns the Passing of Legendary Baseball Coach Roger Cador

Athletics Southern University Athletics Strategic Communications

Southern University Athletics Mourns the Passing of Legendary Baseball Coach Roger Cador

A Jaguar Icon, Hall of Fame Coach, and Architect of HBCU Baseball Excellence.

Southern University Athletics mourns the passing of legendary baseball coach Roger Cador, a transformative leader whose impact on Jaguar Athletics, HBCU baseball and countless student-athletes will forever be remembered.

Coach Cador was 74 years old. 

Cador, who retired from coaching in 2017 after 33 remarkable seasons leading the Southern University baseball program, leaves behind a legacy that extends far beyond the baseball diamond. He built one of the most respected HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) baseball programs in the nation while serving as a leader and ambassador for the game.

"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," said Roman Banks, athletics director. "His impact on Southern University and HBCU baseball is immeasurable. For more than three decades, he built a championship culture, developed generations of student-athletes, and inspired countless lives both on and off the field.

"Coach Cador's legacy extends far beyond his wins, championships and accolades. He represented the very best of Southern University — excellence, pride, commitment and service. The foundation he built, the lives he touched, and the standard he established will continue to guide our baseball program and the Jaguar Nation for generations to come. We are forever grateful for his extraordinary contributions and the lasting mark he leaves on our university."

During his legendary career, Cador compiled a career record of 913-597-1, becoming one of the winningest coaches in college baseball history. Under his leadership, Southern captured two HBCU National Championships (2003, 2005), 14 Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Championships, and made 11 NCAA Regional appearances.
Cador also earned 13 SWAC Coach of the Year honors, coached 10 All-Americans, and helped 62 student-athletes reach the professional ranks through the MLB Draft.

"Coach Roger Cador was a Southern University legend whose impact reached far beyond the baseball diamond, touching the lives of the hundreds of student-athletes he coached and mentored throughout his extraordinary career," said John K. Pierre, chancellor of Southern University and A&M College. "He built one of the nation's most respected baseball programs while helping to shape generations of young men into leaders. His legacy will forever remain a cherished part of Southern University's history."

A native of Louisiana and a proud Jaguar himself, Cador's connection to Southern University began as a student-athlete. From 1970-73, he starred for the Jaguars, including leading Southern with a .393 batting average as a junior in 1972.

Following his collegiate career, Cador played professionally in the Atlanta Braves organization from 1973-77, advancing as high as Class AAA with the Richmond Braves.

He returned to Southern in 1978, serving as an assistant baseball coach and later as a basketball assistant coach before taking over the Jaguar baseball program in 1984.
From that moment, Cador changed the landscape of Southern baseball forever.

One of Cador's earliest milestones came in 1987, when he guided Southern to history as the first HBCU program to win a game in an NCAA Regional, defeating No. 2 Cal State Fullerton, 1-0, in New Orleans.
Throughout his tenure, Cador consistently elevated Jaguar baseball to the national stage, producing championship teams, professional players, and a culture built on excellence.
His 2003 and 2005 HBCU National Championship teams remain among the greatest achievements in HBCU baseball history.

Perhaps his greatest coaching accomplishment was helping develop Rickie Weeks into one of the nation's premier players. Weeks became a two-time NCAA batting champion, earned the 2003 Golden Spikes Award as the top collegiate baseball player in the country, and became the first player from a predominantly Black institution to win the honor.
Weeks was selected second overall in the 2003 MLB Draft by the Milwaukee Brewers and went on to enjoy a successful 14-year Major League Baseball career.
Cador's influence reached well beyond Southern University.

A passionate advocate for baseball opportunities in underserved communities, he worked alongside Major League Baseball and diversity initiatives to increase access and exposure for young athletes.
He also helped organize the Urban Baseball Invitational, now known as the Andre Dawson Classic, bringing national attention to HBCU baseball programs through broadcasts on ESPN and the MLB Network.
Cador's contributions to baseball have been recognized throughout the country. His honors include induction into the SWAC Hall of Fame (2018), the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame (2019), the American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame (2021), and the National College Baseball Hall of Fame (2022).

While the championships, victories, and accolades tell the story of a legendary coach, the true measure of Roger Cador's impact can be found in the players he guided, the communities he served, and the generations of Jaguars who proudly carry his influence.

Southern University extends its deepest condolences to the Cador family, his former players, colleagues, and all those whose lives were touched by a true Jaguar legend.

Coach Roger Cador's legacy will forever live on in the Jaguar Nation.
 
 
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