Our community was rocked by the murder of Coach John Beam last month. Any such loss of life is a tragedy, and when it involves a pillar of the community like Coach Beam, it is all the more heart wrenching.
Coach Beam was no less than a football legend. He served as athletic director and head coach at Laney College and previously led the Skyline High School football team. During his tenure at Skyline, Coach Beam developed more than 100 Division 1 players. Between his time at Laney and Skyline, he produced over 20 NFL players, including seven who played in Super Bowl Championships. In 2018, he was honored as California Community College Football Coach of the Year. His 2019 Laney football season was featured in the Netflix documentary series, Last Chance U.
More importantly, Coach Beam was a father figure to countless young athletes and a steadfast anchor of the Oakland community. His guidance and generosity helped shape many lives. He was not only an admired leader, but also a cherished friend. Our hearts are with his family during this difficult time.