Key points: John Beam, a longtime coach featured on Netflix's Last Chance U and currently Laney College's athletic director, was shot on campus and taken to a hospital. Local reports, including the San Francisco Chronicle, say he was shot in the head and is in critical condition. The campus briefly locked down and police say the suspect fled the scene and remains at large.
John Beam, Laney College AD and 'Last Chance U' Coach, Critically Wounded in Oakland Campus Shooting
Key points: John Beam, a longtime coach featured on Netflix's Last Chance U and currently Laney College's athletic director, was shot on campus and taken to a hospital. Local reports, including the San Francisco Chronicle, say he was shot in the head and is in critical condition. The campus briefly locked down and police say the suspect fled the scene and remains at large.
01:01 PM, 11/14/2025Society
Overview
A shooting on Thursday at Laney College in Oakland, California, left longtime coach and current athletic director John Beam seriously injured. Laney College confirmed that "a senior member of our athletic staff was shot on campus in the Laney Field House" and that the individual was transported to a local hospital.
"A senior member of our athletic staff was shot on campus in the Laney Field House. The individual was immediately transported to a local hospital, and we are keeping them — and their loved ones — in our hearts during this incredibly difficult time," Laney College said in a statement.
Who is John Beam?
John Beam is a respected Bay Area coach who spent 45 years in football coaching and administration. He spent the latter portion of his career at Laney College in Oakland, where he served as head coach and later as athletic director. Beam guided Laney to a state championship in 2018 and was featured prominently in the fifth season of Netflix's documentary series Last Chance U (2020).
Before Laney, Beam coached at the high school level in the Bay Area, including Skyline High School in Oakland. He has been praised for helping student-athletes develop on and off the field; one notable former player, running back C.J. Anderson, went on to play at the University of California and win a Super Bowl with the Denver Broncos.
Shooting and condition
Local outlets and the San Francisco Chronicle report that Beam was shot in the head and is in critical condition. Police said the suspect fled the scene and remains at large. The campus briefly went into lockdown while authorities responded.
Laney College and local law enforcement have released few details about the circumstances of the shooting as investigations continue. The college has asked the community to respect the family's privacy while updates are being gathered.
Context and impact
Beam's work at Laney earned national attention through the Netflix series and through the program's on-field success. The news of his injury has prompted an outpouring of concern from former players, colleagues and the wider football community.
Originally appeared on The Sporting News.