For 40 years, John Beam was a pillar of the Bay Area football community, turning overlooked athletes into NFL players. But that legacy was tragically cut short this week. Laney Eagles’ AD was shot on the Laney campus on Thursday. He passed away on Friday morning at the age of 66.

The shooting incident happened at noon on November 13. The Oakland Police Department made an arrest in the case on Friday morning. While it has been revealed that John Beam knew the alleged shooter, we don’t have any information on the motives. Beam was admitted to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.

John Beam wasn’t just an athletic director; he was a mentor who spent 40 years coaching and mentoring young athletes, particularly in the Bay Area. He joined Laney College as a running backs coach in 2004 and spent eight years with the program before becoming the head coach in 2012. Under him, the Eagles won two Bay 6 Football Conference titles with a winning percentage of about .600.

He produced 20+ NFL players and gained visibility when Laney’s football program was featured in Season 5 of the Last Chance U show. He brought national attention to the program and eventually became the athletic director for the Eagles. Furthermore, he was a community leader who dedicated himself to transforming the Laney Eagles into a standout program.

His death will not only be a loss for the Eagles and their athletic program but also for the broader community in Oakland and the Bay Area, in both education and athletics.

How fans reacted to John Beam’s death on social media

The Oakland community is in mourning today after losing a local legend not just on the football field, but in life. Supporters from around the country flooded their social media feeds with tributes, showing just how deeply he had impacted players and viewers alike. One fan commented, “RIP Coach Beam! Such a pillar in the Oakland/Bay Area community. His impact will be greatly missed,” capturing the influence John Beam had on the Bay Area community.

The sentiment was shared by other fans as well, with one commenting, “My heartfelt condolences to Coach Beam’s family and friends. Praying for peace and comfort for all who loved him. 😢🙏❣️ 🕊️” followed by another fan who also gave his tribute to the late head coach with, “Great coach and a better man. He will be missed. 🙏”

Some tributes were also disgusted by another act of shooting. One simply commented, “Guns. Ugh,” a short but concise reaction to the situation. To think that John Beam was shot meters away from his workplace is just painful.

Another fan summed up the legacy John Beam is leaving behind, saying, “Great man who helped a lot of kids who really needed it. Absolutely sickening.”

Rest and fly high, John Beam.