{{Short description|American football coach (1959–2025)}} {{Use American English|date=November 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=November 2025}} {{Infobox college coach | name = John Beam | image = Joe Davis and John Beam 1986.jpg | alt = | caption = Beam ''(right)'' coaching Skyline in 1986 | birth_date = {{birth date|1959|1|11}} | birth_place = San Diego, California, U.S. | death_date = {{Death date and age|2025|11|14|1959|01|}} | death_place = Oakland, California, U.S. | alma_mater = Cal State East Bay | player_years1 = 1977–1978 | player_team1 = San Diego Mesa | player_positions = Tackle | coach_years1 = 1979–1980 | coach_team1 = Serra HS (CA) (OL) | coach_years2 = 1982–1986 | coach_team2 = Skyline HS (CA) (DC) | coach_years3 = 1987–2003 | coach_team3 = Skyline HS (CA) | coach_years4 = 2004 | coach_team4 = Laney (RB) | coach_years5 = 2005–2011 | coach_team5 = Laney (OC) | coach_years6 = 2012–2024 | coach_team6 = Laney | admin_years1 = 2006–2025 | admin_team1 = Laney | overall_record = 80–52 (junior college)<br/>160–33–3 (high school) | bowl_record = 2–3 | tournament_record = 2–2 (CCCAA playoffs) | championships = CCCAA (2018)<br>Golden Gate Conference (2012)<br/>National Valley League (2017)<br>National Bay 6 League (2022) | awards = | coaching_records = }}
'''John Edward Beam''' (January 11, 1959 – November 14, 2025) was an American football coach and faculty athletics director.<ref>{{cite web | title=Faculty Senate |publisher= Laney College | url=https://laney.edu/sharedgovernance/faculty-senate | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251116182244/https://laney.edu/sharedgovernance/faculty-senate | archive-date=November 16, 2025 }}</ref> 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.<ref name=":0">{{cite news|url=https://apnews.com/article/john-beam-shooting-last-chance-u-oakland-arrest-6c398d3216d3f3a5fbbcc85c68030e26|title=College football coach John Beam from 'Last Chance U' has died after being shot, Oakland police say|first1=Mike|last1=Catalin|first2=Haven|last2=Daley|publisher=Associated Press|date=November 14, 2025|access-date=November 14, 2025}}</ref> Away from the playing field, Beam was a beloved figure in the Oakland area and served as a mentor to thousands of youth.<ref name=":5">{{Cite news |last=Kamrani |first=Christopher |date=2025-11-19 |title=The Legacy of Last Chance U coach John Beam: A father to many in the Bay Area |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6817026/2025/11/19/last-chance-u-coach-john-beam-shot-death/ |access-date=2025-11-19 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> More than 30 of his former student athletes played in the National Football League (NFL).<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Bales |first=Romi |title=Laney College Athletic Director John Beam, dead at 66 |url=https://peraltacitizen.com/2025/11/14/laney-college-athletic-director-john-beam-dead-at-66/ |date=November 14, 2025 |access-date=2025-11-19 |website=The Citizen}}</ref>
==Early life and education== Beam was born in San Diego, California, on January 11, 1959,<ref>{{Cite tweet |user=beam_coach|first=John|last=Beam|number=1878112527604932655|title=I’m 66 today and still putting in the work Folks have asked me what I have been doing since retiring from coaching Well taking care of Lola,Nori, Rocky And going to a real gym 3x week 2 Claps Ready Ready|access-date=November 24, 2025}}</ref><ref name="JohnBeamMercuryNews14112025">{{cite news |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2025/11/14/john-beam-death-shooting-laney-college-oakland/ |title=Coach John Beam, beloved staple of Oakland sports, dies from gunshot wound |first=Shomik |last=Mukherjee |newspaper=The Mercury News |date=November 14, 2025 |access-date=November 15, 2025 }}</ref> to a white American father and Korean mother.<ref name=":2">{{cite web |last1=Sanders |first1=David Lee |title=Interview with John Beam |url=https://www.halfkorean.com/?page_id=12285 |website=HalfKorean.com |access-date=November 18, 2025 |date=July 24, 2023}}</ref> His parents met when Beam's father, who was a member of the United States Navy, was stationed in South Korea.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kim |first1=Kyeongjun |title=Korean American Coach John Beam (66) Fatally Shot at Laney College |url=https://www.koreadailyus.com/john-beam-killing-oakland/ |website=Koreadailyus.com |access-date=November 25, 2025 |date=November 20, 2025}}</ref> Neither of his parents graduated from high school.<ref name=":2" />
Beam went to preschool in Japan before the family moved back to San Diego.<ref name=":2" /> He played varsity football at Kearny High School in 1975 and 1976<ref>{{Cite web |date=1977 |title=1977 Kearny High School Yearbook |url=https://www.classmates.com/siteui/yearbooks/209923?page=145|access-date=2025-11-17 |website=Classmates.com |language=en}}</ref> and at San Diego Mesa College in 1977 and 1978.<ref>{{Cite journal |date=November 14, 2025 |first1=Ryan |last1=Shumaker |title=Statement on Coach John Beam |url=https://www.gosdmesa.com/sports/fball/2025-26/releases/john_beam|access-date=2025-11-17 |website=San Diego Mesa College |language=en}}</ref> Following his wife, Cindi, to the San Francisco Bay Area for school, Beam transferred to Cal State East Bay (then known as Cal State Hayward) where he earned a bachelor's degree.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" />
==Career== ===High school coaching=== Beam began his coaching career in 1979 as an offensive line coach at Serra High School in San Diego.<ref name="heck_09182021">{{cite news|first=Jordan|last=Heck|title=Who is John Beam? 5 facts to know about the new 'Last Chance U' coach|date=September 18, 2021|work=Sporting News|url=https://www.sportingnews.com/us/ncaa-football/news/john-beam-last-chance-u-coach/14bk7w8rlgfiv1vyd2ibbg49ba|access-date=November 14, 2025}}</ref> In 1982, Beam took the defensive coordinator position at Skyline High School in Oakland.<ref name="JohnBeamOaklandside">{{cite news |url= https://oaklandside.org/2025/11/14/john-beam-dead-laney-college-shooting/ |title=John Beam, legendary Oakland football coach shot at Laney College, has died |newspaper=Oaklandside |date=November 14, 2025 |access-date=November 17, 2025 }}</ref> He became the head football coach at Skyline High School in 1987,<ref name="heck_09182021" /> where he led the Titans to a 160–33–3 record, 15 Oakland Athletic League championships, and 11 Oakland Section titles.<ref>{{cite news|first=Jon|last=Becker|title=Why Laney's football coach is pushing back on premise of 'Last Chance U'|date=August 9, 2019|newspaper=The Mercury News|url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2019/08/09/why-laneys-football-coach-is-pushing-back-on-premise-of-last-chance-u/|access-date=November 14, 2025}}</ref> The Titans also had four undefeated seasons under Beam's leadership.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |date=2025-11-14 |title=John Beam, "Last Chance U" coach, dies after shooting at Laney College in Oakland, California - CBS San Francisco |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/news/oakland-john-beam-shooting-laney-college-last-chance-u-suspect-arrested/ |access-date=2025-11-19 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}}</ref> In 1997, he was named the California State Coach of the Year.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |date=2025-11-13 |title=What to know about Laney College Athletic Director John Beam who was shot on Oakland campus |url=https://abc7news.com/post/john-beam-laney-college-athletic-director-shot-oakland-campus/18152570/ |access-date=2025-11-19 |website=ABC7 San Francisco |language=en}}</ref>
Over 100 students went on to play Division 1 football under Beam's leadership and guidance.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dotson |first=Nijzel |date=2025-11-15 |title=Sacramento-area coaches speak on impact of John Beam after he was shot, killed at Laney College |url=https://www.kcra.com/article/sacramento-area-coaches-speak-john-beam/69443244 |access-date=2025-11-19 |website=KCRA |language=en}}</ref>
===Laney College (2004–2025)=== Beam joined the Laney College football program in 2004 as the running backs coach and became the offensive coordinator in 2005.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":4" /> He became the head coach in 2012 and led the Eagles to a California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) championship in 2018.<ref name=":0" /><ref name="heck_09182021" /><ref name=LCU>{{cite news|first=Brady|last=Langmann|title=Laney Coach John Beam Wants Everyone to Know the One Thing Last Chance U Got Wrong|date=July 30, 2020|work=Esquire|url=https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/tv/a33445743/coach-john-beam-last-chance-u-laney-interview/|access-date=November 14, 2025}}</ref> He also was named the CCCAA Coach of the Year in 2018.<ref name="JohnBeamOaklandside" /> Throughout Beam's tenure, Laney had .600 winning percentage and participated in four bowl games.<ref name=":4" /> Over 90% of Beam's players graduated or transferred to four-year schools, including several who played in the NFL.<ref name=":3" />
In 2020, Laney College was featured in the Netflix series ''Last Chance U'', which followed the 2019 football season.<ref name=LCU />
Beam retired from coaching in 2024 but stayed on as the athletics director.<ref name=":0" />
==Personal life== Beam was a notable figure in the Oakland area, known for his bushy mustache and for mentoring local youth.<ref name=":5" /><ref name="JohnBeamMercuryNews14112025" /> He typically ended speeches with his trademark sign off, "Two claps, ready, ready."<ref name=":5" /><ref name="JohnBeamMercuryNews14112025" /> Beam was inducted into the Kearny High School athletics hall of fame.<ref name="JohnBeamMercuryNews14112025" />
Beam met his wife, Cynthia "Cindi" Rivera, when she was a student at University of California, San Diego.<ref name="JohnBeamOaklandside" /> The couple had two daughters, Monica and Sonjha.<ref name="JohnBeamMercuryNews14112025" />
===Death=== Beam was shot at Laney College on November 13, 2025. Authorities reviewed surveillance footage to determine the circumstances of the shooting.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/football-coach-john-beam-netflix-last-chance-u-shot-laney-college-rcna243869|title=John Beam, who appeared on Netflix's 'Last Chance U,' is shot|first1=Phil|last1=Helsel|first2=Angela|last2=Dallman|publisher=NBC News|date=November 13, 2025|access-date=November 14, 2025}}</ref> A suspect was arrested at the San Leandro Bay Area Rapid Transit station by the Oakland Police Department the next day.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-11-15 |title=Arrest made in fatal shooting of John Beam, football coach featured in Netflix's 'Last Chance U' |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/arrest-last-chance-u-john-beam-shooting-rcna243724 |access-date=2025-11-17 |publisher=NBC News |language=en}}</ref> Beam died from the gunshot wound to the head on the same day as the arrest.<ref name="JohnBeamMercuryNews14112025" /><ref>{{cite news|url=https://abc7news.com/post/john-beam-shooting-suspect-custody-laney-college-athletic-director-oakland-campus-sources-confirm/18154913/ |title=John Beam shooting: Legendary Oakland coach John Beam dies after Laney College shooting; Suspect arrested |last=Phan |first=Suzanne |publisher=ABC 7 Bay Area |date=November 14, 2025 |access-date=November 17, 2025 }}</ref> The day before he was shot, Beam had expressed concerns about public safety on the campus of Laney College, and specifically the field house, after the Peralta Community College District in 2020 terminated its contract with the Alameda County Sheriff's Office, which provided armed deputies to protect the school, and replaced them with six unarmed private contractors.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-11-14 |title=John Beam voiced concerns about Laney College safety day before killing |url=https://sfstandard.com/2025/11/14/john-beam-shooting-laney-college-security/ |access-date=2025-11-16 |website=sfstandard.com |language=en}}</ref>
==Head coaching record== ===Junior college=== {{CFB Yearly Record Start | type = coach | team = | conf = | bowl = | poll = CCCAA }} {{CFB Yearly Record Subhead | name = Laney Eagles | conf = Golden Gate Conference | startyear = 2012 | endyear = 2013 }} {{CFB Yearly Record Entry | championship = conference | year = 2012 | name = Laney | overall = 5–6 | conference = 3–1 | confstanding = T–1st | bowlname = East Bay Bowl | bowloutcome = L | bcsbowl = | ranking = 14 | ranking2 = no }} {{CFB Yearly Record Entry | championship = | year = 2013 | name = Laney | overall = 8–3 | conference = 3–1 | confstanding = 2nd | bowlname = Bay Bowl | bowloutcome = W | bcsbowl = | ranking = 9 | ranking2 = no }} {{CFB Yearly Record Entry | championship = conference | year = 2014 | name = Laney | overall = 6–5 | conference = 4–1 | confstanding = T–1st | bowlname = Bulldog Bowl | bowloutcome = L | bcsbowl = | ranking = 10 | ranking2 = no }} {{CFB Yearly Record Subhead | name = Laney Eagles | conf = National Valley League | startyear = 2015 | endyear = 2017 }} {{CFB Yearly Record Entry | championship = | year = 2015 | name = Laney | overall = 4–6 | conference = 1–4 | confstanding = 5th | bowlname = | bowloutcome = | bcsbowl = | ranking = | ranking2 = no }} {{CFB Yearly Record Entry | championship = | year = 2016 | name = Laney | overall = 9–2 | conference = 4–1 | confstanding = 2nd | bowlname = San Francisco Community College Bowl | bowloutcome = W | bcsbowl = | ranking = | ranking2 = no }} {{CFB Yearly Record Entry | championship = conference | year = 2017 | name = Laney | overall = 9–2 | conference = 5–0 | confstanding = 1st | bowlname = NCFC semifinal | bowloutcome = L | bcsbowl = | ranking = 6 | ranking2 = no }} {{CFB Yearly Record Subhead | name = Laney Eagles | conf = National Bay 6 League | startyear = 2018 | endyear = 2024 }} {{CFB Yearly Record Entry | championship = national | year = 2018 | name = Laney | overall = 11–2 | conference = 4–1 | confstanding = 2nd | bowlname = CCCAA championship | bowloutcome = W | bcsbowl = | ranking = | ranking2 = no }} {{CFB Yearly Record Entry | championship = | year = 2019 | name = Laney | overall = 6–5 | conference = 4–1 | confstanding = 2nd | bowlname = | bowloutcome = | bcsbowl = | ranking = 19 | ranking2 = no }} {{CFB Yearly Record Entry | championship = | year = 2020–21 | name = No team—COVID-19 | overall = | conference = | confstanding = | bowlname = | bowloutcome = | bcsbowl = | ranking = | ranking2 = no }} {{CFB Yearly Record Entry | championship = | year = 2021 | name = Laney | overall = 6–5 | conference = 2–3 | confstanding = 4th | bowlname = | bowloutcome = | bcsbowl = | ranking = 19 | ranking2 = no }} {{CFB Yearly Record Entry | championship = conference | year = 2022 | name = Laney | overall = 8–3 | conference = 4–1 | confstanding = T–1st | bowlname = NCFC semifinal | bowloutcome = L | bcsbowl = | ranking = 5 | ranking2 = no }} {{CFB Yearly Record Entry | championship = | year = 2023 | name = Laney | overall = 4–6 | conference = 3–2 | confstanding = 3rd | bowlname = | bowloutcome = | bcsbowl = | ranking = | ranking2 = no }} {{CFB Yearly Record Entry | championship = | year = 2024 | name = Laney | overall = 4–7 | conference = 1–4 | confstanding = 5th | bowlname = | bowloutcome = | bcsbowl = | ranking = | ranking2 = no }} {{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal | name = Laney | overall = 80–52 | confrecord = 38–20 }} {{CFB Yearly Record End | overall = 80–52 | bowls = no | poll = no | polltype = }} <ref> * Standings: {{Cite web |title = 2012 CCCAA Standings |url = https://3c2asports.org/sports/fball/2012-13/overall-standings |access-date = November 21, 2025 |publisher = California Community College Athletic Association }} * Bowl game: {{Cite web |title = Football-CC: East Bay Bowl |url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/oakland-tribune-football-cc-east-bay-bo/185381400/ |access-date = November 21, 2025 |date=November 18, 2012 |newspaper= Oakland Tribune }} * Ranking: {{Cite web |title = Junior Colleges Football: State Bowl Games |url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-fresno-bee-junior-colleges-football/185381465/ |access-date = November 21, 2025 |date=November 14, 2012 |newspaper= The Fresno Bee }} * Standings: {{Cite web |title = 2013 CCCAA Standings |url = https://3c2asports.org/sports/fball/2013-14/overall-standings |access-date = November 21, 2025 |publisher = California Community College Athletic Association }} * Bowl game: {{Cite web |first = Fred | last = Baer |title = 2013 NCFA Bowl Game Round‐up |url = https://3c2asports.org/Football/Men/2013NCFABowlWrapUp.pdf |access-date = November 21, 2025 |publisher = California Community College Athletic Association }} * Ranking: {{Cite web |title = California Community College Regional State Football Poll |url = https://3c2asports.org/sports/fball/2013-14/Rankings1/fbpoll_11172013.pdf |access-date = November 21, 2025 |date = November 17, 2013 |publisher = California Community College Athletic Association }} * Standings: {{Cite web |title = 2014 CCCAA Standings |url = https://3c2asports.org/sports/fball/2014-15/standings |access-date = November 21, 2025 |publisher = California Community College Athletic Association }} * Bowl game: {{Cite web |first = Fred | last = Baer |title = CSM's State-Leading Defense Sets Rushing Record; Stops Laney, 30-20, in Bulldog Bowl |url = https://www.cccaasports.org/sports/fball/2014-15/contrib/20141123by9kcs |access-date = November 21, 2025 |date = November 22, 2014 |publisher = California Community College Athletic Association }} * Ranking: {{Cite web |title = California Community College Regional State Football Poll |url = https://3c2asports.org/Football/Rankings/CCCAA/fbpoll_11162014.pdf |access-date = November 21, 2025 |date = November 16, 2014 |publisher = California Community College Athletic Association }} * {{cite web |author=<!--Not stated--> |title=Laney Football Schedule |url=https://www.laneyathletics.com/sports/football/schedule |publisher=Laney College |access-date=November 15, 2025 }} * For standings from 2015 to 2024, select the respective season from the dropdown and find Laney College under their respective conference.{{cite web|title=3C2A Football Standings|publisher=California Community College Athletic Association|url=https://3c2asports.org/sports/fball/2025-26/standings?jsRendering=true|access-date=November 20, 2025}}</ref>
== Legacy == Many people in the Oakland community considered Beam to be a mentor and, in some cases, a father figure.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |last=Lee |first=Amber |date=2025-12-10 |title=Legendary coach John Beam honored with memorial walk at Laney College |url=https://www.ktvu.com/news/legendary-coach-john-beam-honored-memorial-walk-laney-college |access-date=2025-12-13 |website=KTVU FOX 2 |language=en-US}}</ref> On December 13, 2025, Laney College hosted a memorial walk from the college Bistro to the campus football stadium meant to "reflect the journey that Beam traveled with generations of students during his time at Laney College."<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":7">{{Cite web |date=2025-12-10 |title=Public memorial held for legendary football coach John Beam in Oakland |url=https://abc7news.com/post/public-memorial-legendary-football-coach-john-beam-being-held-oakland/18273147/ |access-date=2025-12-13 |website=ABC7 San Francisco |language=en}}</ref> Hundreds of people attended including Oakland mayor Barbara Lee and several former students.<ref name=":7" />
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{Commons category-inline}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Beam, John}} Category:1959 births Category:2025 deaths Category:20th-century American sportsmen Category:21st-century American sportsmen Category:American people of Korean descent Category:California State University, East Bay, alumni Category:Coaches of American football from California Category:Deaths by firearm in California Category:High school football coaches in California Category:Junior college athletic directors in the United States Category:Laney Eagles football coaches Category:People murdered in California Category:People murdered in 2025 Category:Players of American football from San Diego Category:San Diego Mesa Olympians football players