Laney College Coach John Beam Killed in Targeted Campus Shooting

Laney College football coach John Beam, best known from the Netflix series Last Chance U, has died after being shot on campus, Oakland police confirmed Friday. According to The Associated Press , a suspect has been…

Andrew PowellNov 14, 20253 min read

Sponsored

and had played football at a high school where Beam had previously coached, though not at the same time.

Beam, who joinedLaney College in 2004 as a running backs coach and became head coach in 2012, also served as the school’s athletic director. Under his leadership, the Eagles won two league titles, and 20 of his players went on to play in the NFL. The 2020 season of Last Chance U highlighted Beam’s efforts to give opportunities to overlooked athletes and the close bonds he formed with his team.

Mayor Barbara Lee called Beam a “giant” and a “lifeline for young people,” while Piedmont Police Chief Fred Shavies, who considered Beam a mentor, said, “John was so much more than a coach. He was a father figure to thousands of not only men but young women in our community.”

Beam’s family described him as a “loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, coach, mentor and friend” and asked for privacy amid the outpouring of grief. Former players, including NFL brothers Nahshon and Rejzohn Wright, shared heartfelt tributes on social media, with Rejzohn posting, “You mean the world to me.”

The Shooting comes a day after a student was shot at Oakland’s Skyline High School, highlighting a troubling rise in local school-related gun violence. Authorities credited surveillance from campus cameras, nearby residences, and public transit for helping them apprehend the suspect without incident.

Beam’s death has left Laney College and the broader Oakland community mourning the loss of a beloved coach whose impact extended far beyond the football field.