John Beam

John Edward Beam (January 11, 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. Away from the playing field, Beam was a beloved figure in the Oakland area and served as a mentor to thousands of youth. More than 30 of his former student athletes played in the National Football League (NFL).

Early life and education Beam was born in San Diego, California, on January 11, 1959, to a white American father and Korean mother. His parents met when Beam's father, who was a member of the United States Navy, was stationed in South Korea. Neither of his parents graduated from high school. and at San Diego Mesa College in 1977 and 1978. 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. In 1982, Beam took the defensive coordinator position at Skyline High School in Oakland. He became the head football coach at Skyline High School in 1987, The Titans also had four undefeated seasons under Beam's leadership. In 1997, he was named the California State Coach of the Year.

Over 100 students went on to play Division 1 football under Beam's leadership and guidance.

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. He also was named the CCCAA Coach of the Year in 2018. A suspect was arrested at the San Leandro Bay Area Rapid Transit station by the Oakland Police Department the next day. Beam died from the gunshot wound to the head on the same day as the arrest. 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. In April 2026, the suspect, identified as Cedric Irving Jr., was deemed unfit to stand trial for Beam's killing.

Head coaching record Junior college

Legacy Many people in the Oakland community considered Beam to be a mentor and, in some cases, a father figure. 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." Hundreds of people attended including Oakland mayor Barbara Lee and several former students.