On Friday November 14th, the Sports world lost another legend in Oakland Football Coach and Laney College Athletic Director John Beam. He was well respected in all of sports, a lot of players loved playing for him, learning from his coaching style and leadership. Beam had a big impact on other athletes from different sports including Damian Lillard who is with the Portland Trailblazers. John Beam brought a unique way of networking with people, bringing everyone together, making sure all of his player’s families were included and being a mentor to them. Nahshon Wright from the Chicago Bears and former NFL running back CJ Anderson also loved him as a father throughout their careers.

John Edward Beam (January 1959 – November 14, 2025) was an American football coach and faculty athletics director. He served as the head football coach at Laney College in Oakland, California, from 2012 to 2024. Beam starred in the fifth season of the Netflix documentary series Last Chance U, which was released in 2020. He was born in January 1959 in San Diego, California. Beam was head coach of the Laney College (Oakland, CA) football team from 2012 to 2024, then served as their Athletic Director.

Before Laney, he spent a long time coaching at Skyline High School in Oakland, where he won 15 league championships.

John Beam’s college record (at Laney) was 80–52, he won the CCCAA (California Community College Athletic Association) state championship in 2018. He was featured in Netflix’s “Last Chance U” (Laney College was in Season 5). Over his career, many of his players went on to Division I programs and over 20 made it to the NFL. Beam was widely respected as a mentor and community figure — not just for coaching but for guiding young people in Oakland. On November 13, 2025, he was shot on the campus of Laney College. The next day, November 14, he died from his injuries.

Oakland’s Mayor Barbara Lee called Beam “a giant … a mentor, an educator and a lifeline for thousands of young people.”The shooting has deeply impacted the Oakland community, given his decades of service. Beyond wins and losses, Beam’s legacy is strongly tied to mentorship — he was known for believing in young men who might have otherwise been overlooked.His role on Last Chance U helped bring national attention to the importance of community college football and second-chance opportunities.Many former players have spoken about his impact off the field — helping them with academics, life skills, and self-belief.

I had an opportunity to interview John Beam on my Show four years ago

Here is the interview