The legacy of John Beam through the lives he touched

Within the days since Beam was shot and killed, tributes have poured in from many corners — from the Frick, Skyline and Laney athletes and college students who grew below his model of powerful love, to the colleagues who appreciated the power, ardour and dedication he dropped at the occupation. Many gathered in particular person at Highland Hospital. Others just about to grieve and share tales. An impromptu memorial sprung up exterior the Laney School athletic services, and, on Wednesday evening, a second of silence was held in Beam’s honor at Skyline’s soccer sport.

Since his passing, The Oaklandside spoke with over two dozen individuals impressed by Coach Beam. Whether or not they crossed paths in one among Beam’s P.E. lessons, or on the soccer discipline, or have been one among Beam’s mentees throughout his time at Skyline Excessive Faculty and Laney School, the tales and tributes all touched on the traits that made Beam a pillar in The City. He was fiercely aggressive, passionate and cared deeply concerning the younger individuals he taught and coached, who he labored tirelessly with to maintain on the trail to their greatest selves, whether or not they stayed in sports activities or not.

The Oaklandside has collected written submissions, movies, and pictures, along with newspaper archives from Beam’s 45-year profession, virtually all of which was devoted to serving Oakland youth.

Rodney Campbell, class of 1991

It was Third-and-8 once I first understood who Coach John Beam actually was. I bought flattened by a varsity tailback, laid out with snot bubbles, and Beam let unfastened a sermon of cuss phrases so sharp they might’ve cut up a helmet. However beneath the fireplace was perception — he demanded excellence as a result of he noticed it in you lengthy earlier than you probably did. From that day on, he formed my life. He made soccer enjoyable, manhood intentional, and perception potential. In the present day we misplaced a large, and I wrote the one roses I understand how to offer.

Rodney Campbell wrote a tribute for Coach Beam titled “One Time for John Beam.” You possibly can learn it in full here.

Anthony Cook dinner, class of 1991

Throughout my junior yr, I used to be lucky sufficient to check out for the workforce, and I’m truthfully stunned and shocked that I made the workforce. I truthfully thought I used to be going to get minimize simply due to the expertise stage we had. It felt secure being a part of the workforce. I knew that coach had my greatest curiosity at coronary heart. Coach Beam held everybody accountable. He anticipated everybody to point out up and work and all do it as a workforce, and that’s one thing that I actually cherish. Everybody understood their place, operate and their function to have success on the sphere, however extra so to trigger success in life. Coach Beam adopted up with us, cared about us as we went to varsity and in life, and once we began having households of our personal. 

Damon Owens, class of 1991

I first met Coach Beam as a junior at Skyline once I wished to check out for the varsity workforce, however my GPA was low. I walked into the load room and I noticed this togetherness, this camaraderie. After I noticed that, one thing clicked in me. I requested for assist and raised my grades. I went again and tried and made varsity. What it’s a must to learn about Coach Beam is that he used powerful love, and typically, powerful language, as a result of he was competing for our consideration. He was all the time with us, all the time accessible. Coach was influential in me moving into San Jose State. 

Coach Beam all the time instructed me that though I made errors, I’m not a mistake. He jogged my memory that my subsequent transfer issues greater than my final mistake. That I can do no matter I put my thoughts to, if I did it the appropriate approach. He additionally inspired us to clap for each other. He was actual staunch about protecting your phrase and being a person of integrity. He reminded us that not all of us have been going to play skilled soccer. He wished to boost good husbands and, and good fathers.

William Blackwell, class of 1993

I actually loved the truth that Coach Beam would discover your skills and offer you an opportunity to point out should you might do one thing, and your effort was going to show what you really need. There have been numerous gifted younger males at Skyline. Our practices have been so intense. Coach would make them that approach. He would deal with daily prefer it was sport day. So, once we performed the sport it was by no means as powerful as going in opposition to the fellows in apply, as a result of we have been sharpening one another. 

Ken Sellers, class of 1993

Beam was a philosophical genius. What I imply by that’s that he put these Titan Satisfaction shirts on yearly, and he would have a distinct saying yearly, and one way or the other he would encourage us. We thought we have been on the market taking part in soccer, and he was instructing us how one can play soccer, however what Beam was doing was instructing us how one can grow to be what we wished to be in life. Beam is the glue of that Titan satisfaction. 

Beam shall be missed, and what he instilled in all these males and the group, it wasn’t nearly soccer, it was about life.

Stephen Brown, class of 1993

Coach Beam had this presence round him, and the way he was capable of handle all these younger males at the moment. He was nonetheless caring for those whose names weren’t getting on the newspaper. He was nonetheless letting you already know that you simply have been simply as necessary as anyone else. 

I didn’t have a father determine and Coach Beam understood what I used to be going by. He had a distinct approach with me than a number of the different gamers as a result of I used to be already a dad. He made positive I used to be getting by my Saturday faculty, that I had a job to pay for all my bills. It actually meant the world to me.

Derrick Taylor, class of 1993

Coach reminded us as younger males, what it was to be males. He instructed us that once we stepped out on that discipline, we didn’t solely symbolize ourselves, we represented him. We represented Skyline Excessive Faculty. We represented Titan satisfaction soccer. We additionally represented our dad and mom. In the long run, once we left Oakland, he wished you to know, you symbolize Oakland as effectively, so don’t get out of line. Be sure that they perceive that we’re respectful males. So it wasn’t all the time about soccer. It was about rising up and turning into a person on the similar time.

I labored in cardiology for 25 years, and a few of these interviews I had at two Ivy League hospitals weren’t laborious, as a result of Coach Beam pushed us in sure ways in which made us understand that we have been the cream of the crop, that we have been value being in these areas.

I noticed myself turning into the person that I watched him grow to be. He was in his 30s when he coached us, so watching him undergo these transitions and sitting on this area now. He did rather a lot at a younger age, and was nonetheless displaying us how one can be males at that younger age. He was getting ready us for extra than simply soccer. It was about life.

Johnnie Dempsey, class of 1993

The rationale why I went to Skyline was for Coach Beam. Once I was younger, my brother used to return dwelling and inform me tales concerning the nice Coach Beam. It was one thing from a fantasy world listening to all these tales. All of us wished to be a part of the workforce profitable all these championships. Again then, athletes from Skyline and Coach Beam have been on the entrance of the Oakland Tribune paper. 

Coach Beam would all the time get the most effective out of us. Simply once we thought we couldn’t go any additional, quitting wasn’t an choice. There have been sure issues he instilled in you as a participant that you simply carry in life: not quitting, not making excuses, giving your greatest and extra importantly, how do you wish to be remembered? Coach additionally instilled household values. He all the time had his daughters with him.  All of us he mentored, we’re nonetheless a mirrored image of him in our personal lives.

Oliver Newell, class of 1995

I bear in mind watching Skyline play. I used to be nonetheless a younger child taking part in for the Oakland Dynamites. Being so younger, and getting on the market to see what they needed to supply. I didn’t wish to go anyplace else for highschool. I can’t bear in mind assembly Beam for the primary time, however I bear in mind feeling his presence for the primary time, and feeling what that program is like and taking part in JV and profitable that JV. I’m fairly positive my story is like all people else’s. I don’t understand how Beam has this many individuals with the identical story about one particular person, however if you hear him discuss, all of us went by the identical course of.

Donald White, class of 1996

What Beam allowed me to do as a younger man, was to have a secure area to be me and slot in with numerous the massive time athletes that we had on the faculty. He was going to carry you accountable, and he was going to get you to grow to be the most effective model of you. He had a knack of determining what buttons to push, to determine to get you to a different stage. He wasn’t going to allow you to be content material with placing something on the market. He wished to just remember to have been placing your greatest effort on the market, no matter what was occurring. He held us to the fireplace, you have been going to study what Titan satisfaction means, and perceive that you simply’re a part of one thing larger than simply you. You fall in, and all people wins.

Coach Beam was a beloved and influential determine at Skyline Excessive Faculty past his soccer accolades. Credit score: picture courtesy of Molly Lorenz. Yearbook pages courtesy of Daniel Cotroneo

Molly Lorenz, class of 2000

Skyline Excessive performed De La Salle within the fall of 1999. Everybody went to the sport to symbolize our workforce, Skyline, and Oakland. Coach Beam had taken the workforce to 10 straight OAL Championships within the 90s, culminating my senior yr. We didn’t have lights on our discipline so we by no means had evening video games at dwelling, however when our championship soccer workforce performed at De La Salle, we SHOWED OUT! Coach Beam created a workforce that made us Oakland children happy with the place we’re from.

Carina V. Lieu, senior class president, class of 2002

Coach Beam’s presence went past the soccer discipline. His greatness was felt in our college mascot. He gave us numerous satisfaction as Titans to boast about, and he gave Oakland one thing to be happy with. Coach epitomizes love for our scrappy however deeply loveable Oakland. He can see the lotus within the mud, the roses within the concrete. In a discipline of flowers, Coach can see every one’s uniqueness. Thich Nhat Hanh has stated that “there is no such thing as a demise, solely transformation.” Though he isn’t bodily right here anymore, it’s wonderful to see the hundreds of lives he has touched. He lives on within the seeds of hope he planted inside us. Solely greatness can unite so many individuals. His loss isn’t one made in useless. We realized how a lot we would have liked him, how a lot he meant to us. I hope we grow to be Coach to another person who wants his power.

Daniel Cotroneo, class of 2002

My freshman yr, I did exit for the soccer workforce, and on the very first ball that I caught, it was thrown so laborious that it dislocated my pinky. Coach Beam got here as much as me and half-jokingly stated, ‘you already know, soccer may not work out, however we’re searching for a video man.’ I used to be working at KDOL on the time, and so I turned the video man for the soccer workforce. I’d say that the coach single handedly was accountable for six or seven full scholarships for gamers every season that got here by the system. 

Coach Beam struck the right steadiness between someone that was each approachable and humorous. However, on the similar time agency and demanded respect, day in and time out, and demanded his gamers deliver the most effective model of themselves to every thing that they did, from sports activities to lecturers, to even how one can discuss to the media. He lived his life supporting different individuals.

Charon Merriwether, class of 2002

Coach Beam: the person, instructor, mentor, father determine, buddy, however most significantly, the one who all the time had your again and inspired you to be your greatest. I’ll maintain the time spent, conversations had, and teachings realized pricey to my coronary heart endlessly. Might Coach’s powerful love, snort, smile, and dedication be carried on and remembered all the time. Blessings to Mrs. Beam and your entire Beam household.

Sharon Frasier, class of 2003

Coach Beam is a legend, and I discover consolation figuring out we confirmed him love whereas he was nonetheless right here. As a part of Skyline’s Class of 2003, I noticed with my very own eyes how he modified lives — particularly for teenage boys with restricted sources whose goals relied on soccer. In Oakland, “making it” meant taking part in for Skyline, as a result of all people knew Beam might get you to varsity and a complete completely different future. He was powerful love, jokes, honesty, steering, and unshakable perception all wrapped in a single. He stepped in like a father determine for therefore many who wanted that presence, and he gave probabilities that modified generations. This loss hits deep. Coach John Beam is endlessly cherished.

Beam’s tenure at Skyline led to 2004 when he joined Laney School because the operating backs coach earlier than ultimately taking on as defensive coordinator. He turned Laney’s athletic director in 2006 and, in 2012, Laney’s head soccer coach. Throughout his time as head coach, he led the workforce to the 2018 State Championship. That yr, he earned the Coach of the 12 months award from the California Group School Athletic Affiliation. 

As a coach, he achieved a 90% graduation and transfer rate from the community college. According to ABC7, between his time at Skyline and Laney, he formed the careers of over 20 NFL gamers, together with former Broncos operating again C.J. Anderson, former Steelers Professional Bowl offensive deal with Marvel Smith, and former Patriots cornerback Sterling Moore.

Emmanuel Satisfaction, Logan Excessive Faculty head soccer coach

If I needed to sum up my relationship with Coach Beam and what he instilled in me into one phrase, I’d say, “progress.” Not simply progressing on the soccer discipline as a student-athlete, however in life. Simply having that fixed drive, starvation to get higher at no matter it’s you’re making an attempt to get performed.

From once I graduated highschool in 2015 to at the moment being a head soccer coach, he had a imaginative and prescient for me he noticed past the sphere. From the second I stepped foot at Laney to the second I walked out of that place, it was all the time household. I took the grey shirt route my first yr, which was very typical there, ’trigger they have been very large on improvement. However he confirmed the identical love that he confirmed for the starters. 

It was all the time powerful love with Coach Beam. He wasn’t going to sugarcoat it ’trigger, in his phrases, “If I sugarcoat it, you may attempt to eat it.” He wasn’t afraid to let you know what it was, as a result of even when it wasn’t one thing that I wished to listen to, it was undoubtedly one thing I wanted to listen to. That’s one thing I’ve tried to embody as a head soccer coach in my very own program. 

Within the midst of creating as a soccer participant, profitable a state championship, getting my faculty paid off, we had a dialog the place he requested, basically, “What’s subsequent?” You are feeling such as you reached the mountaintop however he opened my eyes as to how that is barely tip of the iceberg

I feel choosing up that whistle and moving into teaching, I couldn’t have had a greater function mannequin. There have been talks between him, not simply concerning the X’s and O’s of soccer, however simply, how one can attain younger males … Coach Beam would pull you into his workplace and speak about what he felt you have been able to doing. We’re within the enterprise of correcting, as a lot as we’re within the enterprise of critiquing.

, I got here into Laney chubby and Coach Beam was very adamant about me altering my physique, shedding weight. I didn’t perceive why he was so laborious on me on the time. However then for him to tug me within the workplace and simply inform me what precisely it might do for me, was the consequence that it could yield as effectively. I feel that spoke main volumes to me by way of character. 

Now that he’s gone, it’s on us to hold on the legacy. 

Alex Kith, Mt. Eden Excessive Faculty head soccer coach

I performed for Coach Beam in 2008 and 2009 at Laney School … His objective was to construct relationships along with his athletes and leverage these relationships to deliver out the most effective in them. And it didn’t even should be on the sphere — it might simply be in life. You’ll hear tales from individuals who say he wasn’t simply taking the most effective student-athletes. He was taking guys who had been in hassle, who have been struggling, and he was dragging the most effective out of them. His largest factor again then was transferring, in getting guys out of Laney and into four-year packages. 

He was additionally clear about how one can enhance. He’d set us up like, “If you happen to do X, Y, and Z and you employ us, we’ll assist you to get the place you wish to be.” … Not everybody went on to play soccer, however I ended up transferring to the College of San Diego. Many people have been transferring only for lecturers, not simply soccer, and I feel he took numerous satisfaction in that too.

I moved again from San Diego in 2013 and began teaching at the highschool stage at my alma mater, the place I nonetheless work. I coached there for about 5 years, took a break, and within the spring of 2022, Coach Beam known as me. I’d nonetheless have the voicemail. He stated he wanted a operating backs coach. Somebody he trusted, with expertise. I used to be a last-minute rent, however that first yr went rather well. We went 8–3. I realized rather a lot from him and from different guys on workers. 

On bus rides, Coach Beam would inform tales about Skyline and reminisce about large video games. It was wonderful to soak all of that in. … Now I’m the top coach at Mount Eden Excessive Faculty and assistant athletic director, and numerous how I conduct myself stems from what I realized watching him.

One factor he instructed me was, “If you happen to can go coach highschool, go do it. Be the change.” We are able to complain about how issues are run, or we will go repair them. After my first sport as head coach, he known as and requested the way it went. I instructed him it was powerful, and he stated, “Take a look at the positives and construct on them.” He all the time reassured me I used to be doing the appropriate factor. After every thing that’s occurred, it’s lit one other fireplace below me. That is my calling. I don’t know if there’ll ever be one other John Beam, but when I can come near what he did, that may make him proud.

Fred Zepeda Fresno Metropolis School cornerback coach

At first, he didn’t know my title, after which, as soon as he began to know that I used to be a coach, he would spend time with me earlier than the video games. 

As my children grew up, they heard tales about Coach Beam and his groups. Then the “Final Probability U” documentary got here out in 2020. Each of them watched it on a regular basis, together with a number of occasions earlier than Fresno confronted Laney. I feel they watched it ten occasions. 

Then the sport got here round. I launched Coach Beam to my children. He took trip to spend time with them, asking about them. It was particular.

After we heard about what occurred, we have been in shock. However I began enthusiastic about his household, his spouse. That was laborious. That damage.

Oakland Hearth Division Chief Damon Covington

Being in Oakland, you already know Coach Beam in passing by sports activities. He was a legend approach earlier than his Laney days.

Now we have handled Coach yearly [since I was the President of the Oakland Black Firefighters Association]. At any time when we begin our firefighter academy, we take our recruits up the primary day and do a health take a look at at Laney and Coach Beam all the time meets us there, and would discuss to the recruits about what it takes to be an Oakland firefighter and the satisfaction we’ve got in our metropolis. 

In February, he got here to speak to our government workers for Oakland Hearth. You knew instantly that you simply have been within the presence of greatness. He had a knack for connecting with individuals. He talked to us about respecting your teammates, being an excellent teammate to your workforce, and holding one another accountable.

Now we have misplaced an icon. He represented every thing that was good about Oakland. The children that he was coping with, numerous them have been on a foul path. As an alternative of being incarcerated or worse, that they had an opportunity to go to varsity and alter your entire trajectory of their lives. 

Alexis Grey Lawson, athletic director and group faculty supervisor at Oakland Tech, former WNBA participant

Dropping you has left an area in the neighborhood that I don’t know how one can fill. Thanks for the recommendation, believing in me, and seeing greatness in me lengthy earlier than I noticed it in myself. Your classes formed the particular person I’m in the present day. I carry your phrases with me daily, and I promise to honor your legacy by my work, my management, and the best way I present up for others. You’re the panorama of Oakland in the best way you gave, and I’ll always remember you.

Mario Bobino, filmmaker and former director at KDOL-TV

I met Coach Beam in 1992 once I was the sports activities director for KDOL-TV. Coach Beam requested me to movie all of the video games, and I’d give him copies. He’d watch the tapes, then ask me to make him spotlight reels that he would ship to schools to get scholarships for his gamers. 

Years later, once I turned a filmmaker, I wanted a location to movie a film, and he let me use that complete athletic facility at Laney without spending a dime once I was imagined to pay cash for it. He stated, due to every thing that I did for him, he took an opportunity on me.

Beam was a father determine to all of his gamers. He might have been at USC. He might have been a part of the Pac-12, however that’s how a lot of a dedication he had and the way devoted he was to the youth in Oakland. Now we have misplaced a frontrunner. You’re not going to return throughout someone like this man ever once more. He was so real. He’s irreplaceable.

Eduardo Yagües Nuño, head soccer coach at San Francisco Metropolis School

[Coach Beam] was very verbal and lively, all the time searching for methods to enhance the sport, to make JC soccer higher. It’s a tragic, tragic factor that has occurred. 

I heard numerous completely different tales about how aggressive Coach Beam was, even when he was taking part in badminton. Clearly it prolonged to the soccer discipline and into recruiting, ’trigger we all the time recruited the identical gamers. Nevertheless it’s a tough job. Particularly for members of the family once we gotta keep late to satisfy a recruit or their households. He was extremely devoted to this.

At these schools, we get every kind of children, from completely different socioeconomic backgrounds. And also you’re all the time gonna find yourself being both a counselor, an enormous brother, a parental determine, no matter that particular person wants to remain the course. 

Paul Perenon, former head soccer coach at Bishop O’Dowd and Mt. Eden

There was by no means any grey space with Beam on something associated to soccer. If he preferred one among my guys [for a spot at Laney], he made it clear the child’s gonna come and have an opportunity to play proper now or if he thought the child wanted a yr to develop bodily: “We’d like to have you ever, however you’re in all probability gonna should grey shirt or crimson shirt and spend a yr getting larger, stronger, and quicker, after which have an opportunity to earn a spot and earn taking part in time.”

Lots of people use the time period “old style.” I don’t. Beam was all about accountability and penalties. You don’t get it performed, there’s a worth that’s gonna be paid. You listened to the best way the youngsters who’ve been interviewed for the reason that tragedy occurred final week — they’re gonna let you know he was powerful on them. Demanding. And that was the most effective. Though it was painful and troublesome and difficult, that’s the best way it needed to be. And that’s why Coach Beam was profitable. And I’ve numerous respect for that.

I had a protracted dialog with John a few yr and a half in the past at a training convention with youthful coaches. Everyone was saying children have modified. However John and I have been saying they haven’t. We began teaching across the similar time, so we have been taking a look at each other, saying, “No. No. What’s modified are adults’ expectations and willingness to carry children accountable.” They hold shifting the road again and are afraid to say no. The issues obtainable to children are completely different — social media, cell telephones — however should you place your limits on them and maintain the youngsters to what your expectations are, these issues grow to be no completely different than the stuff that was obtainable for youths to get distracted with 40 years in the past.

Chris Kyriacou, former Skyline soccer and baseball coach, Bishop O’Dowd athletic director

I first encountered Beam when he was a first-year defensive coordinator at Skyline Excessive Faculty. He was like 23 years outdated, and I used to be taking part in at Oakland Excessive. I tackled someone on the sideline. We’re taking part in in entrance of two,000 individuals in a first-place sport. I begin speaking some mess to the child I tackled. Coach Beam is correct up in there saying, “You ain’t doing nothing!” We bark at one another. I assumed to myself, “Who is that this man?” 

Quick ahead a number of years. He’s the JV coach at Skyline, I’m the JV coach at Oakland Excessive. I’ve an excellent workforce however he arguably has the most effective JV workforce I’ve ever seen in my 45 years watching the sport. He was unimaginable. I’ve respect now for this man however nonetheless don’t suppose I like him as a result of he’s an excessive amount of like me. 

Quick ahead once more. I’m the top coach at Skyline Excessive Faculty in baseball and he’s the top varsity coach. He has large footwear to fill in Tony Eulalia, nice coach, and a bit little bit of the expertise graduated, however as a coach we expect we will do every thing. They arrive in 5–4–1. They don’t win the OAL title, and John is feeling like, “Gosh, I assumed I used to be higher than this.” So he wished to herald new coaches. So he talks to me within the baseball discipline to ask me to teach with him. I stated “No, thanks.” He got here again two days later: “Coach, we bought the identical children. They instructed me they like taking part in for you. I would like guys like that.” I stated sure, and what a blessing. 

That man did a lot for me, didn’t even know me however a yr and a half. He involves my marriage ceremony. Three months later, I’m 24. I bought no credit score, he co-signs for a automobile for me. Finally ends up being my grasp instructor. Finally ends up teaching my JV baseball workforce one yr. We grow to be buddies. 

He was an uncle to my two boys, and he’s an uncle and father to hundreds. And it’s not simply the soccer gamers, it’s not the junior excessive basketball children, however the girls and boys that by no means performed a sport that had him in PE that every one really feel like, “Man, this was my man.” And once more, although he was retired as soccer coach just lately, belief me, he was nonetheless taking part in life coach to everybody.

These footwear can’t be stuffed by one particular person, two individuals. Hey, it’d take 100 of us to say, “ what? I do know I’m busy. I do know we’ve bought payments, however guess what? Do we’ve got time to assist with the group?” If all of us use him as that motivator, one thing good can come out of this. We are able to hold his legacy going.”