Message from Athletics Director,
John Beam

Welcome to LANEY College, home of the eagles!

It has been my privilege to serve as the Director of Athletics at Laney College since July 2006.

Here at Laney College, we pride ourselves on having outstanding, dedicated coaches who are positive role models for our student-athletes. Our coaching staff works with our athletes not only on the athletic side, but we are truly invested and committed to our student athletes' academic and personal success. We offer seven intercollegiate sports including five women’s sports: basketball, swimming & diving, track & field, volleyball, and water polo. On the men’s side we offer baseball and football.

At Laney, our students come first. To develop our students we are home to some of the best facilities in Community College Athletics. We have an all-weather lighted baseball field that was completed in 2011 and a track and football field were resurfaced in 2013. We have a 2,000 seat gymnasium for volleyball and basketball, and we have one of the fastest swimming pools in the area. We have an 18,000 square foot Athletic Field House that houses locker rooms, a training room, a weight room, team meeting rooms, and classrooms for our student-athletes. It also has a kitchen and bbq for special events and meals for our student-athletes.

Annually our athletic department graduates or transfers close to 90% of our student-athletes and generates over $1,000,000 in scholarships and grants. This is due to the hard work and commitment of the entire athletic department.

Laney College is in the heart of the one of the most vibrant cities in the state of California and in the United States. Oakland has a rich tradition of music and the arts, sports, and is one of the most diverse and multicultural cities in the country. We take pride in the fact that the racial, ethnic and socioeconomic makeup of our coaching staff and student athletes reflects the rich diversity of our Bay Area community.

On behalf of myself, Laney College, our amazing faculty and staff, welcome to Laney Athletics and we look forward to having you be a part of the Laney College family.

Regards,
John Beam

LANEY COLLEGE ATHLETICS MISSION STATEMENT

The Athletic Department of Laney College is committed to providing challenging, competitive, and rewarding educational and athletic opportunities for diverse men and women student-athletes to grow and develop academically, athletically, physically, and socially.  Coaches, administrators, and support staff are dedicated to offering the best quality athletic programs that teaches, motivates, and instills positive character and sportsmanship to student-athletes. Our goal is for student-athletes to transfer to four-year universities and colleges, where they may continue to pursue their academic and professional goals.    

VISION

The Laney College Athletic Program vision is:

1)    To view student-athletes as students first, and athletes second.

2)    To have a supportive academic and athletic environment for student-athletes to thrive and succeed, and be prepared to transfer and graduate.

3)    To focus on the physical health, mental, and nutritional wellbeing, and athletic development of student-athletes.

4)    To educate student-athletes on how to play a sport by the rules to assure physical and mental safety.

5)    To train student-athletes to be responsible, accountable, and positive community role models.

John Beam

football head Coach

Hall of Fame Coach John Beam started at Laney College as the Running Backs coach in 2004 and in 2005 he was promoted to the Offensive Coordinator position. As the Offensive Coordinator, he lead an explosive offense that helped the Eagles win 3 conference championships and 5 straight bowl game appearances.

In 2012, he became the Head Football Coach. Under his leadership as the Head Coach, Laney College has won two league titles, had a .600 winning percentage, and has gone to 4 bowl games. Coach Beam started his coaching career in 1979 at Serra High School in San Diego, where he was the offensive line coach, helping his team reach the playoffs for the first time in school history. He moved to Oakland and began coaching at Skyline High School in 1982 as the defensive coordinator. During the 1984 season, Skyline had an undefeated season including beating national power De La Salle High School. In 1987, John Beam was promoted to the Head Football coaching position. During his time as Head Coach he had 15 league championships, 11 section championships, 4 undefeated seasons, and went undefeated in league play in the 90’s.

John Beam boasted a 160-33-3 overall record during his time at Skyline High School, building a reputation of developing Division 1 athletes. During his time at Skyline High School, John Beam produced more Division 1 players than anyone else in Northern California, sending more than 100 football players to the Division 1 level.

Between his time at Laney College and Skyline High School, John Beam has produced over 20 NFL players including 7 players that participated in the Super Bowl. John Beam has also coached players who have won at every level of football, including a NCAA Division 1 National Championship, NCAA Division 3 National Championship, Canadian Grey Cup, NFL Europe Championship, and Arena League Championship.

From his coaching success, John Beam has built relationships with coaches across the country at every level of football. Because of these relationships, his Laney College Football Program has seen a 90% graduation and transfer rate, while maintaining consistent relationships with some of the most decorated college programs in the nation.

Athletic Specialist - Sakai Metcalf

John Beam Addresses Athletes at OAL Luncheon