John Beam, the legendary Laney College football coach and longtime athletic director whose career and philosophy were showcased to millions on Netflix’s Last Chance U, has died from a gunshot wound sustained during a shooting on the Laney College campus Thursday afternoon. He was 66.
Beam was shot just before noon inside the athletics field house, an 18,000-square-foot facility that includes locker rooms, meeting rooms, classrooms, and a weight area. Emergency responders transported him to a local hospital in critical condition. Despite efforts to save his life, Beam died Friday at approximately 10 a.m., according to Oakland police.
Police initially launched a manhunt for a suspect, describing him as a man wearing a black hoodie and dark clothing. On Friday evening, authorities confirmed that 27-year-old Cedric Irving Jr. had been arrested in connection with the shooting. Oakland Acting Police Chief James Beere said Irving was familiar with Beam but had never played football for him. Investigators do not believe the two had a prior relationship. A motive has not yet been released.
The shooting prompted a brief campus-wide lockdown as officers swept the area and secured students and staff. The Peralta Community College District called the attack “a frightening moment for our community,” adding that the victim, initially unnamed, was a senior member of the athletics department.
Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee said she was “heartbroken,” noting that the incident marked the second shooting on an Oakland school campus in a single week. Just a day earlier, a student was injured in a shooting at Skyline High School — where Beam had once served as head coach.
A Legacy That Transcended Football
Beam dedicated more than four decades to shaping young athletes in the East Bay, from Skyline High School to Laney College, where he built one of the nation’s premier junior-college football programs. His tenure earned national attention in 2020 when Last Chance U profiled him and the Laney Eagles in its fifth and final season.
On screen and on the field, Beam became known for his compassionate, holistic approach to coaching — one focused as much on life lessons as athletic success. He often emphasized vulnerability, emotional strength, and community, especially for young men navigating difficult circumstances.
“To many young men, especially young men of color, showing your vulnerability is a sign of weakness,” Beam told The New York Times in 2020. “We’re trying to say: ‘No. It’s not. Asking for help is a strength move.’”
Loved ones and former players described him as a “larger-than-life” mentor who changed countless lives. NFL cornerback Rejzohn Wright, one of Beam’s former Laney players featured on Last Chance U, shared a tribute on Instagram: “You mean the world to me,” he wrote, alongside a photo of Beam resting his hands on his shoulder pads.
Beam retired from coaching in 2024 but continued serving Laney College as athletic director until his death.
Impact on Oakland and Beyond
Beam’s influence extended far beyond football. He was a central figure in Oakland’s athletic community — a stabilizing force in a city grappling with rising gun violence.
Ken Houston, a city councilmember, called Beam’s shooting “deeply painful” for Oakland. “He is a legend in our city,” Houston said. “It’s not good in Oakland right now.”
Community organizations and educators echoed the sentiment Friday evening, emphasizing the profound loss felt across generations of students, families, and fans.
Survived by a Devoted Family
Beam is survived by his wife, two daughters, and granddaughters — a family he frequently referenced with pride in interviews and public appearances.
Laney College and the Peralta district have announced that counseling resources will be made available to students, athletes, and staff.
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