John Beam, the athletic director and former football coach at Laney College, was shot on Thursday. Reports indicate the incident took place on the Oakland campus.
Details regarding Beam’s condition are currently unclear. Earlier statements from college officials confirmed that a victim associated with the athletic department was transported to a local hospital, though they did not name Beam initially.
According to a notification from the college, “A senior member of our athletic staff was shot on campus at Rainey Fieldhouse.” They expressed their thoughts for the individual and their family during this challenging time.
“We will not be releasing their names at this time out of respect for their privacy,” the statement continued.
Local law enforcement is still searching for the shooter. Oakland Police Department Deputy Chief James Beer has requested assistance from the community in identifying the suspect, who was described as a male in black clothing with a black hoodie.
Beam’s coaching career in the Bay Area spans several decades, beginning in 1982 as a defensive coordinator at Oakland Skyline High School. After more than twenty years there, he joined Laney College as their running backs coach in 2004 and became head coach in 2012.
Throughout his career, Beam has coached numerous NFL players, with seven of them having played in the Super Bowl.
His football program gained notoriety through the Netflix series “Last Chance U,” which highlights junior college players competing for opportunities at Division I institutions.
Reflecting on the experience, Beam shared in a 2020 interview, “I think they did a really good job of telling the story of Oakland, Laney, Skyline, myself, and our entire community. But what I really want is for the community and CCCAA to provide better support for our students.”
