Chris Kyriacou, the physical education teacher at Bishop O’Dowd High School and the powerhouse coach for the Oakland Wildcats youth travel baseball team, just officially snagged the Chronicle’s inaugural John Beam Community Action Award. This isn’t just some shiny new trophy for a shelf, folks; this is about recognizing four decades of grinding it out in the Oakland community, shaping lives as a coach, educator, and leader. Kyriacou, who’s 61, embodies everything this award stands for, especially since it’s named after a legend, John Beam, the former Laney College football coach who passed away just last November.
More Than Just Colleagues: A Bond Forged in Fire
You wanna talk about impact? Kyriacou has been a force for nearly 40 years, just like Beam, who was a mentor, a friend, a big brother, and a colleague all wrapped into one for him. These two grew up in the Oakland high school sports scene, and even though they only spent seven years together on staff at Skyline High, their combined effort shaped countless lives for almost four decades. Kyriacou has put in the work, coaching and teaching at Skyline, San Lorenzo, and for the last two decades plus, at Bishop O’Dowd. He put it perfectly, saying, “Coach was so many things to me and many people in Oakland. Not just players, other students, other adults. Coach was just invaluable.” Seriously, Beam even called Kyriacou “one of my best friends” when they were chilling at an Athletics’ game back in 2024. And yeah, Kyriacou delivered a killer tribute at Beam’s celebration of life in January.
But here’s the kicker, the part that shows you how real these guys were. You’d think a bond that strong started all sunshine and rainbows, right? Wrong. Their first encounter was anything but friendly. Kyriacou himself said, “Sadly, our first encounter with each other was yelling at each other.” Can you even imagine? We’re talking about a senior-year Kyriacou at Oakland High going up against Beam, a 23-year-old first-year defensive coordinator at rival Skyline. During a heated rivalry football game, Kyriacou made a tackle and, being the “wacko on the athletic field” he describes himself as, started “talking some crap.” Beam, with his own similar fire, shot back, “‘Hey, man, get out of here! You ain’t doing nothing!’” Kyriacou was probably thinking, “Who is this guy?” And then, just three years later, a 21-year-old Kyriacou became a “traitor” by taking a varsity baseball coaching gig at Skyline, Beam’s school. That’s a story you just can’t make up!
A Lasting Legacy for Oakland’s Future
This award isn’t just about celebrating Kyriacou’s past; it’s a huge nod to the kind of community leadership that builds futures. It shines a light on the tireless work behind the scenes, the kind that doesn’t always grab headlines but absolutely changes lives. For Oakland, this means the legacy of John Beam, and now Chris Kyriacou, will continue to inspire. We’re talking about the standard for what it means to truly invest in your community, one kid, one practice, one game at a time. Here’s to hoping this award sparks even more dedication and passion in the years to come!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply