Who Is John Beam? What to Know About the Mentor Behind Laney College’s Football Team and Last Chance U Star Who Was Fatally Shot

John Beam, a former Last Chance U coach, was fatally shot at Laney College in Oakland, Calif., on Thursday, Nov. 13.

The 66-year-old athletic director was shot in the head on the school’s campus. He died on Friday, Nov. 14. Hours before he was pronounced dead, Cedric Irving Jr. was identified as a suspect and taken into custody, the Oakland Police Department said in a press briefing on Friday.

Irving knew Beam but they “did not have a relationship,” Assistant Chief of Police James Beere said during the news conference, adding that Irving was on the college campus Thursday “for a specific reason.”

“This was a very targeted incident, and I will say that Coach Beam, although they did not have a close relationship, was open to helping everybody in our community,” Beere continued.

Beam was notably featured in the Netflix series, Last Chance U, and was an Oakland football icon.

From his career to his family, here’s everything to know about John Beam.

Beam was a college football coach

The San Diego native began his coaching career in 1979 as an offensive line coach at Serra High School in San Diego, per ABC 7. Then in 1982, he headed up to Oakland, Calif., and was the defensive coordinator at Skyline High School. Five years later, he became the head football coach. During his tenure, the team won 15 league championships

In 2004, he joined the Laney College Eagles as the running backs coach. In 2012, he became the head coach. Under his leadership, the team won two league titles, including the 2018 State Championship. That same year, he was awarded the California Community College Athletic Association’s Coach of the Year award.

He retired from coaching in November 2024 and most recently served as the college’s athletic director.

He was a mentor to future NFL stars

Throughout his career, he mentored several student-athletes and achieved a 90% graduation and transfer rate from the community college, according to The Oaklandside.

Twenty of his former students became NFL players, and seven of those players competed in the Super Bowl. He coached Super Bowl champion Patriots cornerback Sterling Moore, former Broncos running back C.J. Anderson, former Steelers offensive tackle Marvel Smith and brothers Nahshon Wright and Rezjohn Wright of the Chicago Bears and New Orleans Saints respectively.

Following the news of Beam’s death, a few of the players paid tribute to the late coach.

Rejzohn posted an Instagram Stories of a photo of him, Nahshon and Beam, and wrote: “Crushed.” Nahshon also posted a photo to his Instagram Stories, writing, “Will Forever Miss You Dawg.”

Just last month, Beam went to Chicago to see Nahshon and Rezjohn’s teams play against each other, The Oaklandside reported.

Moore also posted an Instagram Stories tribute: “Rest easy Coach! I’m forever in your debt!”

He and the Laney Team were featured on Last Chance U

Notably, the coach and the Laney football team became nationally recognized after they were featured in the Netflix series Last Chance U. The docuseries follows community college athletes as they attempt to persevere despite past struggles.

The team was the subject of the show’s fifth and final season, and chronicled their 2019 season.

After the series wrapped, he told ABC 7 the experience was “unbelievable.”

“I think they did tell the story of Oakland, Laney, Skyline, myself and our whole community in a really good way,” Coach Beam said. “But, what I hope it brings, really, is some ideals in the community and the CCCAA level that we need to support our students better.”

Beam continued, “They see the grind that young men are willing to go through to pursue a dream. They see a city like Oakland and I think our team matches the city.”

He was dedicated to the Oakland community

Following the news of his death, Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee said, he was “a giant” in the community. “A mentor, an educator and a lifeline for thousands of young people,” she said. “For over 40 years, he has shaped leaders on and off the field, and our community is shaken alongside his family.”

Former Oakland Deputy Chief Frederick Shavies said in Friday’s news conference that Beam “was so much more than a coach.”

“He was a father figure to thousands of not only men but young women in our community,” Shavies said. “I know that I am not eloquent enough to put into words the indelible mark that Coach Beam has left on so many, not just in this region but around the state and around the nation.”

In Beam’s own words, he celebrated how the Oakland community has given back to him. “My loyalty is to this community. They’ve given me more than I’ve ever given them,” Beam said, according to The Oaklandside. “They gave me a place to belong. They gave me a place where I was valued as a human being. Oakland gave that to me, so I want to keep giving to Oakland as much as I can.”

He was a devoted husband, father and grandfather

Beam was married to his wife, Cindi. They shared daughters Monica and Sonjha. He was also a grandfather to two granddaughters.

He told KPIX last year that after he retired from coaching, he was going to coach his granddaughters: “I got these two granddaughters. I want to be a soccer, basketball, softball grandpa.”