It looks like the popular Netflix documentary series Last Chance U is heading out west. According to reports swirling online, the series will be heading to Downtown Oakland to focus on Laney College.
“Confirmed: Laney College in Oakland, California will be featured on Last Chance U Season 5. Cali, You’re Up…Laney College went 11-2 last year and were the 2018 California Community College Athletic Association Football Champions,” the Last Chance U Alum account wrote on Twitter.
After stops at East Mississippi Community College in Scooba, Mississippi and Independence Community College in Independence, Kansas, it would mark the first time the series was based in a major city and on the West Coast.
If the report proves to be true, the new head coach that would be the focus of the series would be John Beam, who has been head coach at Laney since 2012. Beam is also the school’s athletic director. He has previously served as the program’s running backs coach and offensive coordinator. During his time at Laney, the program has gone to six bowl games, two league titles, and the 2018 state championship.
“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,” the Laney athletics website reads.
“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.”
Beam is very well respected in the coaching community.
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.
We will have to see whether Netflix confirms the reports of Laney College being the new school on Last Chance U. Laney kicks off its 2019 campaign on Friday, September 6 at home against Modesto Junior College.