Southern University announced Monday that it is grieving the loss of Hall of Fame baseball coach Roger Cador, who passed away at the age of 74.
Cador spent three decades at the helm of the Jaguars, guiding the program from 1984 through 2017 and amassing a record that includes two HBCU national championships and 14 Southwestern Athletic Conference titles.
A legacy that transcends the game
His influence extended beyond the diamond, producing 10 All‑American athletes and 62 players who earned MLB draft selections; among them, Rickie Weeks captured the 2003 Golden Spikes Award and was later drafted second overall by the Milwaukee Brewers.
The 1987 season remains a landmark, when Cador led his squad to a stunning 1‑0 upset over No. 2 Cal State Fullerton in New Orleans, marking the first time an HBCU had advanced past the opening round of the NCAA tournament.
Colleagues and former players describe Cador as a mentor whose legacy is measured in the lives he shaped, not merely in trophies or win‑loss records.