NFL players mourn shooting death of Korean American coach and mentor

Coach John Beam, was 66 years old when he was fatally shot.

 John Beam was the celebrated Korean American coach at Oakland's Laney College  whose life was tragically cut short in a campus shooting.

Coach Beam died on November 14 from a gunshot wound sustained during a shooting on the Laney College campus the previous day. A suspect, a former high school player from an rival school, was arrested in connection with the fatal shooting.
Beam was a highly respected figure in the Bay Area, a mentor to thousands of young people. He was a proud Korean American, a fact passed over by most mainstream media. It's a shame because his racial heritage was a major part of what made him who he became.

Beam was born in San Diego, but his father, a US Navy veteran who met his wife in Korea, moved the family to Japan to be closer to her home country. Beam spent his early childhood there and was reportedly fluent in Japanese, which his mother also spoke with their maid. This immersion in a different culture from a young age helped shape his worldview.

The family moved to San Diego when Beam's father was reassigned to that city where he continued to thrive in the multicultural environment.

His mother's influence seems to be most evident in the grounding in different cultures and the strong family values that friends and family say he carried throughout his life, becoming a father figure to thousands of young men in the process.

Being Hapa

Beam's pride in his mixed-race background was evident throughout his life. He openly discussed his heritage in a 2011 interview with HalfKorean.com, where he detailed his mother's background and their unique family dynamic, highlighting the normalcy of their diverse household.

Here's an excerpt from that interview:

Growing up my breakfast was different in that I didn’t eat cereal. I had hard-boiled eggs sliced up with soy sauce. I had rice and hot water and cut a fish or squid. You’re doing these things at school where we’re trying to figure out if you’re eating healthy. We would work on assignments that asked “what was your breakfast?” but none of the food I ate was on any list.

Beam coached for over 45 years at Laney College and Skyline High School, mentoring thousands of students, including many who went on to play in the NFL. His influence extended beyond sports, with many community members mourning the loss of a man who was dedicated to building up the youth of Oakland, according to CBS News.

He was the head coach of the Laney College football team from 2012 to 2024 and then became the athletic director. His 2019 season with the Laney Eagles was featured in the Netflix documentary series Last Chance U, which brought his story and identity to a national audience.

FYI: Watch the 'Last Chance U' episodes featuring Coach John Beam

He helped more than 20 of his players go on to play in the NFL and was instrumental in shaping the lives of numerous athletes, many of whom credit him with saving their lives.

NFL player's emotional tribute

Chicago Bears cornerback Nahshon Wright, who played for Beam at Laney, paid an emotional tribute to his "father figure" during the game against the Vikings. After catching interception he went the endzone and knelt to honor Beam while his teammates consled him.

SCREEN CAPTURE

Chicago Bears Nashon Wright paid tribute to the slain John Beam.

Other players, including Nahshon's brother Rejzohn Wright, a cornerback for the New Orleans Saints, and former NFL player William Blackwell Jr., have also expressed their grief, with many highlighting Beam's profound impact on their lives and careers.

Nahshon Wright, spoke about the significant impact Beam had on their lives, often describing him as a father figure.

"We talked once a week, easily," Nahshon Wright told KTVU. "He did a lot for me and my brother."

NBA star and Oakland native Damian Lillard called Beam a "true Oakland legend and GREAT man" on Instagram. "Hundreds of kids all over Oakland became the type of men they are today because of this dude."Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr wore a shirt with Beam's name on it before a game against the Spurs. He also used the tragedy to speak about the larger issue of gun violence.

“We have to be the change, as a community, as citizens, we have to be the ones that insist that we address the gun violence issue in this country,” he said.

Days after the fatal shooting, Oakland police arrested Cedric Irving, 27, as a suspect .

Oakland police Assistant Chief James Beere told reporters that police believe Irving knew Beam but that they "did not have a relationship."

"This was a very targeted incident," Beere alleged. "I will say Coach Beam, although they did not have a close relationship, was open to helping everybody in our community and this is not uncommon for him to have a relationship with someone that he would think needs help."

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