The American Baseball Coaches Association remembers ABCA Hall of Famer Roger Cador, one of the most accomplished coaches in college baseball history and a tireless advocate for HBCU baseball, following his passing on June 30 at the age of 75.
Inducted into the ABCA Hall of Fame in 2022, Cador spent 33 seasons as head coach at Southern University, where he built one of the nation's premier HBCU baseball programs. He retired in 2017 with a 913-597-1 career record, leading the Jaguars to 14 Southwestern Athletic Conference championships, two HBCU national championships, and 11 NCAA Regional appearances.
Cador's impact extended far beyond Southern. A passionate ambassador for HBCU baseball, he helped increase national exposure for Historically Black Colleges and Universities through initiatives such as the Urban Baseball Invitational, now the Andre Dawson Classic, while working alongside Major League Baseball to expand opportunities for student-athletes and grow the game in underserved communities.
Among his many accomplishments, Cador guided Southern to the first NCAA Regional victory by an HBCU program in 1987. He also coached 10 All-Americans, had 62 players selected in the MLB Draft, and helped develop 2003 Golden Spikes Award winner and future MLB All-Star Rickie Weeks, the first player from a predominantly Black institution to earn college baseball's highest individual honor.
Cador's remarkable career earned him induction into the SWAC Hall of Fame, Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame, ABCA Hall of Fame, and National College Baseball Hall of Fame. His influence on Southern University, HBCU baseball, and the coaching profession will continue to be felt for generations. The ABCA extends its deepest condolences to the Cador family, the Southern University community, and all those whose lives he touched.
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