The baseball world mourns the loss of Roger Cador, who spent three decades guiding the Southern University Jaguars from a modest program into a national powerhouse. His death at 74 marks the end of an era for the university and the broader HBCU community.
A Mentor Beyond the Game
During his 33‑year tenure he captured two HBCU national titles and added fourteen SWAC championships, a run that earned him induction into both the National College Baseball Hall of Fame in 2022 and the American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame a year earlier. He was also honored as SWAC Coach of the Year thirteen times, a testament to his consistent excellence.
U.S. Representative Troy Carter praised Cador for his profound impact on Southern University and the broader Baton Rouge community, noting that former players often credit the coach with more than just athletic development. Tony Williams, a former Jaguar, recalled how Cador would reach out to alumni to discuss life lessons, while William Bates, who received a scholarship that changed his trajectory, called the coach a father figure who gave him a second chance.
Though funeral arrangements have yet to be announced, the outpouring of gratitude from players, colleagues and community leaders underscores the lasting imprint Cador left on the sport and on the lives he touched.