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OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA — John Beam, the longtime head football coach and athletic director at Laney College who rose to national prominence through Netflix’s Last Chance U, has died after being shot on campus in what police have described as a targeted attack.
Beam, 66, was shot around midday on Thursday, November 13, 2025, at or near Laney College’s athletic complex. He was rushed to the hospital in critical condition and was pronounced dead the next morning, Friday, November 14.
Suspect Taken Into Custody
Cedric Irving Jr., 27, was arrested around 3 a.m. on Friday at a BART station in San Leandro in connection with the shooting. Police confirmed that Irving and Beam knew each other, although they were not close. Irving had previously played football at Skyline High School in Oakland, where Beam coached for 22 years, though the two did not directly work together.
Authorities said Irving was known to frequent the Laney campus and described the incident as “very targeted,” though no official motive has been released.
Beam’s Legacy on and off the Field
Beam was a cornerstone of Oakland athletics and youth development. He joined the Laney College staff in 2004 and became head football coach in 2012, leading the team to success both on the field and in the classroom. Over the course of his career, more than 20 of his former players went on to play in the NFL, with many others transferring to four-year universities.
His leadership and mentorship were nationally recognized when Last Chance U featured Laney College in its fifth season, bringing Beam’s coaching style and commitment to his players into the spotlight.
Though he retired from coaching in 2024, Beam continued to serve as Laney’s athletic director, remaining active in the lives of student-athletes.
Oakland Mourns a Local Giant
Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee released a statement honoring Beam’s contributions to the community, calling him “a giant in Oakland — a mentor, an educator, and a lifeline for thousands of young people.” She also noted the city’s grief in the wake of two campus shootings reported within two days.
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