Football
Kim McCloud
- Title:
- Cornerbacks
- Email:
- klmcclou@syr.edu
- Phone:
- 6731
With extensive experience coaching both sides of the football, Kim McCloud joined Dino Babers’ staff in January 2016. After spending his first two seasons coaching Syracuse’s receivers, McCloud shifted to defense in 2018 to mentor the Orange cornerbacks.
McCloud and Babers have worked together for 10 seasons. Before joining him at Syracuse, McCloud was Babers’ defensive coordinator at Eastern Illinois (2012-13) and Bowling Green (2014). In 2015, McCloud was promoted to assistant head coach for the Falcons and coached the team’s receivers. He and Babers first formed their working relationship as assistants at Baylor from 2008-10.
In 2018, McCloud coached a collection of corners who helped the Orange generate 18 interceptions – tied for the fifth-highest total in the FBS. The takeaways contributed to a 111-46 advantage in points off turnovers, as Syracuse went 10-3 and scored a 34-18 victory over West Virginia in the Camping World Bowl.
Prior to moving to defense, McCloud produced two All-Americans and three All-ACC performers in his two seasons coaching the Syracuse wide receivers. In 2016, McCloud’s influence helped Amba Etta-Tawo become one of college football’s breakout stars. Relatively unknown before arriving at Syracuse, Etta-Tawo set 10 school receiving records in his one year with the Orange and was named to four All-America teams.
In 2017, it was Steve Ishmael who took the nation by storm. Ishmael ranked second in the FBS in receptions per game (8.8) and total catches (105). He also finished in the top 10 in receiving yards per game (4th - 112.2) and total receiving yardage (7th - 1,347). Ishmael earned nine separate All-America honors, including second-team recognition from NCAA consensus selectors the Walter Camp Football Foundation, the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) and Sporting News.
Ishmael formed one half of Syracuse’s dynamic 2017 receiving duo. Partner Ervin Philips also benefited from McCloud’s expertise. Philips caught 179 of his school-record 223 passes in two seasons working with McCloud. A 2017 All-ACC Second Team performer and the Walter Camp Connecticut Player of the Year, Philips ranked in the top 10 nationally in receptions per game as both a junior and senior.
Syracuse wasn’t the first program to see its receivers excel under McCloud’s direction. In 2015, McCloud’s work helped Bowling Green wideouts Roger Lewis (first team), Gehrig Dieter (second team) and Ronnie Moore (third team) earn All-MAC honors. Lewis was an unstoppable force. He ranked second in the FBS in receiving yards (1,544), third in touchdown receptions (16) and fifth in receiving yards per game (110.3) on his way to FWAA (second team) and Associated Press (third team) All-America recognition.
Before his stint coaching the BGSU receivers, McCloud was the architect of the team’s hard-hitting defense. His 2014 unit forced 33 turnovers in 14 games (2.4 avg.) to help the Falcons win the Mid-American Conference (MAC) East Division title and defeat South Alabama in the inaugural Raycom Media Camellia Bowl. The unit featured former Arizona Cardinals linebacker Gabe Martin, who recorded 115 tackles and led the MAC with 18 tackles for loss.
At Eastern Illinois, McCloud was part of Babers’ staff that turned around a struggling Panthers program. After successive 2-9 records before the staff’s arrival, Eastern Illinois improved to 7-5 in 2012 and went 12-2 in 2013. The Panthers won the Ohio Valley Conference title and made the FCS playoffs both years, including finishing with the No. 3 national ranking in 2013. McCloud’s schemes resulted in a 2013 Panther defense that led the FCS in fumble recoveries (23), gained 37 turnovers, and ranked sixth nationally in turnover margin (+14).
Prior to reuniting with Babers at EIU, McCloud served as an assistant coach at Akron (2011), Baylor (2008-10), Nevada (2000-07) and Idaho (1998-99). At Baylor, McCloud helped the Bears to the 2010 Texas Bowl and coached two All-Big 12 safeties in Byron Lander and Jordan Lake, while also working as the defensive recruiting coordinator.
Before moving to Waco, McCloud was an assistant at Nevada for eight seasons, including seven years as the Wolf Pack’s secondary coach. Nevada made three straight bowl appearances and won the 2006 Western Athletic Conference title in McCloud’s final three years on the staff. He coached a pair of All-WAC performers at Nevada, including receiver Nichiren Flowers, who ranked second in the WAC with 91 receptions in 2004.
A Los Angeles, California native, McCloud was a four-year letterman and three-year starter at Hawaii, earning honorable mention All-WAC honors at defensive back. He signed as a free agent with the San Diego Chargers in 1991 and played two seasons (1991-92) in the Canadian Football League for the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
Following his playing career, McCloud broke into coaching at Kaiser High School in Honolulu. He worked as a graduate assistant at Missouri in 1997, helping the Tigers earn an invitation to the Holiday Bowl.
In 1998, McCloud joined the staff at Idaho as a cornerbacks coach where he helped the Vandals win the Big West Conference and defeat Southern Miss in the Humanitarian Bowl.
A 1991 Hawaii graduate, McCloud and his wife, Renée, are the parents of two children – Kaleb and Rachel.
THE McCLOUD FILE
Experience: 25th season/4th at Syracuse
Hometown: Los Angeles, Calif.
Alma Mater: Hawaii '91
Family: wife, Renee; son, Kaleb; daughter, Rachel
PLAYING EXPERIENCE
College: Hawaii (1987-90)
Pro: Saskatchewan Roughriders (CFL - 1991-92)
POSTSEASON COACHING EXPERIENCE
1997 Holiday Bowl
1998 Humanitarian Bowl
2005 Hawaii Bowl
2006 MPC Computers Bowl
2007 New Mexico Bowl
2010 Texas Bowl
2012 FCS Playoffs (First Round)
2013 FCS Playoffs (Quarterfinals)
2014 Camellia Bowl
2015 GoDaddy Bowl
2018 Camping World Bowl
PROMINENT PLAYERS COACHED
Nevada
Nichiren Flowers (2004 All-WAC First Team)
Joey Garcia (2005 and 2006 All-WAC First Team)
Baylor
Chance Casey (Oakland Raiders, San Francisco 49ers, Indianapolis Colts, Cleveland Browns, Jacksonville Jaguars)
Jordan Lake (2008 All-Big 12 First Team)
Bowling Green
Jude Adjei-Barimah (Tampa Bay Buccaneers, San Diego Fleet - AAF)
Gabe Martin (Arizona Cardinals, New Orleans Saints)
Roger Lewis (New York Giants, Tennessee Titans)
Syracuse
Amba Etta-Tawo (Jacksonsville Jaguars, Kansas City Chiefs, New York Giants, Houston Texans, AAF - Birmingham Iron)
Steve Ishmael (Indianapolis Colts)
Ervin Philips (Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Atlanta Legends - AAF)
McCloud and Babers have worked together for 10 seasons. Before joining him at Syracuse, McCloud was Babers’ defensive coordinator at Eastern Illinois (2012-13) and Bowling Green (2014). In 2015, McCloud was promoted to assistant head coach for the Falcons and coached the team’s receivers. He and Babers first formed their working relationship as assistants at Baylor from 2008-10.
In 2018, McCloud coached a collection of corners who helped the Orange generate 18 interceptions – tied for the fifth-highest total in the FBS. The takeaways contributed to a 111-46 advantage in points off turnovers, as Syracuse went 10-3 and scored a 34-18 victory over West Virginia in the Camping World Bowl.
Prior to moving to defense, McCloud produced two All-Americans and three All-ACC performers in his two seasons coaching the Syracuse wide receivers. In 2016, McCloud’s influence helped Amba Etta-Tawo become one of college football’s breakout stars. Relatively unknown before arriving at Syracuse, Etta-Tawo set 10 school receiving records in his one year with the Orange and was named to four All-America teams.
In 2017, it was Steve Ishmael who took the nation by storm. Ishmael ranked second in the FBS in receptions per game (8.8) and total catches (105). He also finished in the top 10 in receiving yards per game (4th - 112.2) and total receiving yardage (7th - 1,347). Ishmael earned nine separate All-America honors, including second-team recognition from NCAA consensus selectors the Walter Camp Football Foundation, the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) and Sporting News.
Ishmael formed one half of Syracuse’s dynamic 2017 receiving duo. Partner Ervin Philips also benefited from McCloud’s expertise. Philips caught 179 of his school-record 223 passes in two seasons working with McCloud. A 2017 All-ACC Second Team performer and the Walter Camp Connecticut Player of the Year, Philips ranked in the top 10 nationally in receptions per game as both a junior and senior.
Syracuse wasn’t the first program to see its receivers excel under McCloud’s direction. In 2015, McCloud’s work helped Bowling Green wideouts Roger Lewis (first team), Gehrig Dieter (second team) and Ronnie Moore (third team) earn All-MAC honors. Lewis was an unstoppable force. He ranked second in the FBS in receiving yards (1,544), third in touchdown receptions (16) and fifth in receiving yards per game (110.3) on his way to FWAA (second team) and Associated Press (third team) All-America recognition.
Before his stint coaching the BGSU receivers, McCloud was the architect of the team’s hard-hitting defense. His 2014 unit forced 33 turnovers in 14 games (2.4 avg.) to help the Falcons win the Mid-American Conference (MAC) East Division title and defeat South Alabama in the inaugural Raycom Media Camellia Bowl. The unit featured former Arizona Cardinals linebacker Gabe Martin, who recorded 115 tackles and led the MAC with 18 tackles for loss.
At Eastern Illinois, McCloud was part of Babers’ staff that turned around a struggling Panthers program. After successive 2-9 records before the staff’s arrival, Eastern Illinois improved to 7-5 in 2012 and went 12-2 in 2013. The Panthers won the Ohio Valley Conference title and made the FCS playoffs both years, including finishing with the No. 3 national ranking in 2013. McCloud’s schemes resulted in a 2013 Panther defense that led the FCS in fumble recoveries (23), gained 37 turnovers, and ranked sixth nationally in turnover margin (+14).
Prior to reuniting with Babers at EIU, McCloud served as an assistant coach at Akron (2011), Baylor (2008-10), Nevada (2000-07) and Idaho (1998-99). At Baylor, McCloud helped the Bears to the 2010 Texas Bowl and coached two All-Big 12 safeties in Byron Lander and Jordan Lake, while also working as the defensive recruiting coordinator.
Before moving to Waco, McCloud was an assistant at Nevada for eight seasons, including seven years as the Wolf Pack’s secondary coach. Nevada made three straight bowl appearances and won the 2006 Western Athletic Conference title in McCloud’s final three years on the staff. He coached a pair of All-WAC performers at Nevada, including receiver Nichiren Flowers, who ranked second in the WAC with 91 receptions in 2004.
A Los Angeles, California native, McCloud was a four-year letterman and three-year starter at Hawaii, earning honorable mention All-WAC honors at defensive back. He signed as a free agent with the San Diego Chargers in 1991 and played two seasons (1991-92) in the Canadian Football League for the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
Following his playing career, McCloud broke into coaching at Kaiser High School in Honolulu. He worked as a graduate assistant at Missouri in 1997, helping the Tigers earn an invitation to the Holiday Bowl.
In 1998, McCloud joined the staff at Idaho as a cornerbacks coach where he helped the Vandals win the Big West Conference and defeat Southern Miss in the Humanitarian Bowl.
A 1991 Hawaii graduate, McCloud and his wife, Renée, are the parents of two children – Kaleb and Rachel.
THE McCLOUD FILE
Experience: 25th season/4th at Syracuse
Hometown: Los Angeles, Calif.
Alma Mater: Hawaii '91
Family: wife, Renee; son, Kaleb; daughter, Rachel
PLAYING EXPERIENCE
College: Hawaii (1987-90)
Pro: Saskatchewan Roughriders (CFL - 1991-92)
| COACHING LEDGER | ||
| Years | School | Position |
| 1995-96 | Kaiser HS (Hawaii) | Defensive Coordinator |
| 1997 | Missouri | Graduate Assistant |
| 1998-99 | Idaho | Defensive Backs |
| 2000-03 | Nevada | Cornerbacks |
| 2004 | Nevada | Wide Receivers |
| 2005-07 | Nevada | Cornerbacks |
| 2008-10 | Baylor | Secondary |
| 2011 | Akron | Secondary |
| 2012-13 | Eastern Illinois | Defensive Coordinator |
| 2014 | Bowling Green | Defensive Coordinator |
| 2015 | Bowling Green | Asst. Head Coach/Wide Receivers |
| 2016-17 | Syracuse | Asst. Head Coach/Wide Receivers |
| 2018 | Syracuse | Asst. Head Coach/Cornerbacks |
| 2019-present | Syracuse | Cornerbacks |
POSTSEASON COACHING EXPERIENCE
1997 Holiday Bowl
1998 Humanitarian Bowl
2005 Hawaii Bowl
2006 MPC Computers Bowl
2007 New Mexico Bowl
2010 Texas Bowl
2012 FCS Playoffs (First Round)
2013 FCS Playoffs (Quarterfinals)
2014 Camellia Bowl
2015 GoDaddy Bowl
2018 Camping World Bowl
PROMINENT PLAYERS COACHED
Nevada
Nichiren Flowers (2004 All-WAC First Team)
Joey Garcia (2005 and 2006 All-WAC First Team)
Baylor
Chance Casey (Oakland Raiders, San Francisco 49ers, Indianapolis Colts, Cleveland Browns, Jacksonville Jaguars)
Jordan Lake (2008 All-Big 12 First Team)
Bowling Green
Jude Adjei-Barimah (Tampa Bay Buccaneers, San Diego Fleet - AAF)
Gabe Martin (Arizona Cardinals, New Orleans Saints)
Roger Lewis (New York Giants, Tennessee Titans)
Syracuse
Amba Etta-Tawo (Jacksonsville Jaguars, Kansas City Chiefs, New York Giants, Houston Texans, AAF - Birmingham Iron)
Steve Ishmael (Indianapolis Colts)
Ervin Philips (Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Atlanta Legends - AAF)
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