Former Skyline High coach, Laney College head coach (and featured on Last Chance U) and current Laney AD was shot on campus. Reports in the ICU at Highland. Prayers up for him, that guy has given so much to the Oakland community and local football.

Multiple sources tell ABC7 News that the man shot at Laney College Thursday afternoon is current athletic director and former football coach John Beam. Oakland fire says he was taken to the hospital for his injuries but did not elaborate on his condition. Beam was featured in the… pic.twitter.com/HkDCgBihfY

— ABC7 News (@abc7newsbayarea) November 13, 2025

Damn

Chron reporting he was shot in the head.

Laney College in Oakland was placed on lockdown Thursday after athletic director and longtime football coach John Beam was shot on campus, according to authorities and a source familiar with the matter. https://t.co/cbFhqkV6I8

— San Francisco Chronicle (@sfchronicle) November 14, 2025

***? Wow!

Passed away this morning

Watch the Laney College season of Last Chance U on Netflix if you get a chance -- good watch

Dang, a coach that was part of the community fabric of Oakland is gone. I read somewhere that he helped a couple hundred kids get scholarships. He had some amazing teams and players at Skyline High too. They were really good for a decade or more. Our own CJ Anderson played for him at Laney.

For those who missed his season, here's a taste.

I only watched his season.




(Random tangent: John Beam had a white military dad and Korean mom. And unlike his predecessor, he was the opposite of an a-hole. ESPN's Mina Kimes, who also has a white military dad and Korean mom, recently had a public spat with Beam's Last Chance U predecessor John Brown after he attempted to dunk on her.)

RIP.

Suspect arrested

Did a lot of good for this world. Spoke to Beam last week, happy as ever. Loved his new family time and proud of what he did throughout his career. Always supported me on my journey. Sad day for the game, and for a lot of us JC guys that were just looking for a chance.… https://t.co/bcncuJdKJM

— Nick Rolovich (@NickRolovich) November 14, 2025

RIP Coach John Beam 🙏 pic.twitter.com/KzzwHtd9uV

— jordy. (@ndgojordy) November 14, 2025

Very sad. Coaches like this don't grow on trees.
Do we know the Laney kids that went to cal?

Notable Laney College Alumni who Played for Cal
C.J. Anderson: Anderson played at Laney College, earning first-team All-American, All-State, and All-NorCal Conference honors before transferring to Cal. At Cal, he shared the backfield with Isi Sofele and Brenden Bigelow during the 2011 and 2012 seasons. Anderson later had a successful NFL career, most notably winning a Super Bowl with the Denver Broncos.
Marcel Dancy: Dancy, also a running back, came to Cal from Laney College and was influenced by C.J. Anderson's path. He contributed to the Golden Bears' rushing attack in the years following, running for 248 yards in 2019 and expected to contribute even more in subsequent seasons.

My heart aches so much right now. Beam is the most down to earth person I’ve ever meet when my father was shot and killed he came and knocked on my door and got me and my younger brother out of bed and the rest is history. I’m glad I was able to speak with you one last time… pic.twitter.com/Z5NziziKcV

— Nahshon Wright (@nahwrig) November 15, 2025

What a grab by @nahwrig 😱

📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/5G66ZwQZdj

— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) November 16, 2025

okaydo said:

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My heart aches so much right now. Beam is the most down to earth person I’ve ever meet when my father was shot and killed he came and knocked on my door and got me and my younger brother out of bed and the rest is history. I’m glad I was able to speak with you one last time… pic.twitter.com/Z5NziziKcV

— Nahshon Wright (@nahwrig) November 15, 2025

What a grab by @nahwrig 😱

📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/5G66ZwQZdj

— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) November 16, 2025

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What an emotional moment for Nahshon Wright and terrific play. He's maybe the tallest corner I recall. His younger brother is on the IR for the Saints and was one of the focal points of Last Chance U: Laney.

Having watched all of the available seasons of that show, Coach Beam seemed like the only coach who actually gave a crap about the players and their lives. Truly part of the community rather catching a pay check.