Roger Cador, the longtime architect of Southern University’s baseball program, died this week at the age of 74.
A standout player in the early 1970s, Cador batted .393 as a junior and earned a draft selection by the Atlanta Braves before turning to coaching.
In 1985 he was named head coach of the Southern Jaguars, a position he held for three decades, overseeing a program that captured 14 SWAC championships and earned 11 NCAA Tournament berths.
A Historic Tournament Run
The 1987 squad made history as the first HBCU team to win a tournament game, shocking No. 2 Cal State Fullerton in a regional final and etching the program into national lore.
Cador’s excellence was recognized repeatedly, earning SWAC Coach of the Year honors 13 times and culminating in his 2019 induction into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame.
Beyond the trophies, his mentorship shaped generations of players and cemented Southern’s reputation as a powerhouse in collegiate baseball, a legacy that continues to influence the sport today.