Jack Cloud is a native of Norfolk, Virginia where he starred in football at Maury High School. He entered the Air Force after graduation and served as a gunner for three years before entering college.
While playing for William & Mary in the late 1940’s Cloud was named an All-Southern Conference Fullback three times. He set a school scoring record of 102 points in 1947 and scored 5 touchdowns in one game. The New York Sun named him All-America in 1947, and Newspaper Enterprise Association picked him in 1948. It was during Cloud’s four years at William & Mary that the Tribe had some of its finest football teams. His 45 career touchdowns are still a conference record.
After college Cloud pursued a professional football career with the Green Bay Packers as a fullback and the Washington Redskins as a linebacker. Two knee operations altered his NFL career, which required him to retire early.
Cloud began coaching for William & Mary as an assistant football coach for one year and then moved on to coach for the U.S. Navy from 1955 to 1958. He was the athletic director and head coach at Norfolk Naval Station, before joining the staff at the U.S. Naval Academy. Over a 22-year period he was plebe coach, lightweight coach, or assistant varsity coach. He remained on the faculty as associate professor of physical education and special assistant to the director of athletics. He retired from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1990. Cloud is also a member of the College Football Hall of Fame located in South Bend, Indiana.