BIRMINGHAM, Ala.- The Southwestern Athletic Conference mourns the passing of legendary Southern baseball head coach Roger Cador, a Hall of Famer whose remarkable career transformed Jaguar Baseball and helped elevate HBCU baseball on the national stage. He was 74.
 
Cador retired in 2017 after 33 seasons as Southern's head baseball coach, finishing with a 913-597-1 career record that ranks among the winningest in college baseball history. During his tenure, he led the Jaguars to 14 Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) championships, two HBCU National Championships (2003 and 2005), 11 NCAA Regional appearances, and 13 SWAC Coach of the Year honors. He also coached 10 All-Americans and helped 62 student-athletes reach professional baseball through the MLB Draft.
 
A Louisiana native and Southern alumnus, Cador starred for the Jaguars from 1970-73 before playing professionally in the Atlanta Braves organization from 1973-77. He returned to his alma mater in 1978 as an assistant coach and was named head baseball coach in 1984, beginning one of the most successful coaching careers in HBCU baseball history.
 
Among the defining moments of his career, Cador guided Southern to the first NCAA Regional victory by an HBCU program in 1987 with a 1-0 win over Cal State Fullerton. He also helped develop Golden Spikes Award winner Rickie Weeks, who became the first player from a historically Black college or university to earn college baseball's highest individual honor before being selected second overall in the 2003 MLB Draft.
 
Beyond Southern, Cador was a tireless advocate for expanding opportunities in baseball. He worked alongside Major League Baseball to promote diversity in the sport and played an instrumental role in establishing the Urban Baseball Invitational, now known as the Andre Dawson Classic, helping bring national exposure to HBCU baseball through ESPN and MLB Network broadcasts.
 
His extraordinary contributions were recognized with induction into the SWAC Hall of Fame (2018), Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame (2019), American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame (2021), and National College Baseball Hall of Fame (2022).
 
The Southwestern Athletic Conference extends its deepest condolences to the Cador family, his former players, colleagues, and friends. Coach Roger Cador's legacy of excellence, leadership, and service will forever endure throughout SWAC Nation and the game of baseball.

A celebration of the life and legacy of Cador will be held on Monday, July 6 at the F.G. Clark Activity Center. Public viewing will be from 3:00 pm CST - 6:00 pm CST followed by a memorial service at 6:00 pm CST. 

About the SWAC
The Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) is considered one of the premier HBCU conferences in the country and currently ranks among the elite in the nation in terms of HBCU alumni playing with professional sports teams.
 
Current championship competition offered by the league includes competition for men in Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Indoor Track and Field, Outdoor Track and Field and Tennis.

Women’s competition is offered in the sports of Basketball, Bowling, Cross Country, Golf, Indoor Track and Field, Outdoor Track and Field, Soccer, Softball, Tennis and Volleyball.
 
Follow the SWAC
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