John Beam , the beloved former football coach known for giving overlooked players a chance and featured on Netflix’s Last Chance U , has died after being shot on the Laney College campus where he worked. The 66-year-old was targeted by someone police say knew him, and the suspect has been arrested. His death came just a day after the shooting, sending shockwaves through the community. Friends, students, and fans gathered in vigils outside the hospital, remembering Beam as a mentor who always went out of his way to help others.

Beam’s career spanned more than 40 years, beginning in San Diego before he settled in the Bay Area, where he became a fixture in Oakland football. At Skyline High School, he built a powerhouse program, winning 15 league titles, 11 section championships, and f

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