The death of Amherst Central High School football coach Jason Beckman this week has left his peer coaches, friends, colleagues and students across Western New York in shock.
But those who found the words to remember Beckman this week say they will miss a friend who was known for his work ethic, his strong character and for being the man who players wanted to rally around, whether Beckman was leading them as a coach, or under center as quarterback.
Beckman, 52, was identified as the driver of a Jeep Gladiator that veered off the Niagara Scenic Parkway on Monday and into the Niagara River. Beckman was declared dead at the scene.
Anthony Panella, the Amherst district superintendent, noted in a statement to the community that Beckman had been with the district for 29 years.
“In his role as an Amherst Middle School physical education teacher, a varsity football coach and boy’s varsity bowling coach, Mr. Beckman taught and coached countless students,” Panella wrote. “As a community we are grieving, and plans are in place to support faculty, staff and students during this difficult time.”
The motorist whose truck plunged into the Niagara River two miles above Niagara Falls on Monday has been identified as a North Tonawanda man, state police reported.
Jim Maurino, the West Seneca East coach, had known Beckman since their freshman year at Canisius University. Maurino played linebacker, and Beckman was the quarterback. They both graduated in 1995, when their school was still known as Canisius College.
“Jason and I played at Canisius together all four years,” Maurino recalled, his voice heavy with shock. “Got to know him really well over those four years. The way people are describing him is just the way he is. Just intelligent, caring and a super nice guy. He was a great athlete, and I was sad this morning to hear that.”
Maurino remembered Beckman as a hard worker – a player who earned everything he got and commanded respect through sheer force of character.
“I remember us as players rallying for him because he was a good leader and the guys could rally behind him,” Maurino said.
“We always thought as the defensive players he would give us the best chance to win. He was the guy we thought should’ve been our starter. We always pulled for him.”
The quiet and persistent work ethic defined Beckman’s tenure at Amherst. The Tigers were never the glamor program, as Maurino pointed out, and many top athletes from the area often would be lost to competing programs. Despite that hurdle, Beckman was never deterred.
“He always stuck with it,” Maurino said. “He did the best with what he had and always developed his talent. He tried to change his game so he could be successful. He didn’t need to win championships or go recruit and try to find these guys that everyone else seems to do these days. He was just happy being a coach and teaching the kids the game of football and all of the intangibles that come with it. He was always working hard for the kids and for the program.”
Beckman’s on-field rivals also said this week they respected Beckman for his dedication to his players. South Park coach Tim Delaney often crossed paths with Beckman, not just on the field, but through the New York State High School Football Coaches Association, where they would engage in long conversations about Western New York football.
“We probably coached against each other close to 10 times,” Delaney said. “We always spoke pre-game and post-game and help each other out with film or anything we would need. He was a great guy and always did well by his kids.”
Delaney admired the fight Beckman instilled in his players, even when they were underdogs.
“He always coached his kids hard,” Delaney said. “Their kids always played hard and were always competitive, even when they didn’t have the best of teams. They always played until the end.”
Beckman was a coach who was committed to the long haul.
“It’s semi-rare where a program gets a coach that’ll be there for 10, 15, 20 years,” Delaney said. “Jason was in it for the long haul. He worked hard and I know how he coaches kids up. They were always having really good sportsmanship. No matter win or lose, his kids were always respectful, no matter the situation. He did a really good job with his program.”
Get in the game with our Prep Sports Newsletter
Sent weekly directly to your inbox!
* I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy.
Clevis Murray
Sports Reporter
Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily!
Your notification has been saved.
There was a problem saving your notification.
{{description}}
Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.
Followed notifications
Please log in to use this feature
Log In
Don’t have an account? Sign Up Today