All American season 5: What happened to Coach Baker on All American?

All American season 5 has brought with it more emotion and heartbreak than we were expecting! In episode 11, “Time,” we had to say goodbye to a beloved character, with his death happening off-screen. And that character was Billy Baker, aka the amazing Coach Baker.

The Feb. 20, 2023 episode, “Lost One,” saw the aftermath of what happened to the coach. After all, he was loved by so many, including his beautiful family. They’re going to need so much support, as do we following this surprising loss. Episode 12 focused on his family and everyone who knew him, and how each person is coping with his loss.

The series has already been renewed for a season 6 by The CW, and we’re sure this plot line is going to continue for a while. With Billy being such an integral character, this is going to drive many of the characters’ stories going forward.

So what exactly happened to the coach? How did he die? We’ve got the answer for you below.

What happened to Coach Baker on All American?

Coach Baker is a beloved character, and the way we’ve been forced to say goodbye to him was certainly fitting. He’s always looking out for his players, and he did the same when he thought Jabari was still on the bus. His death happened off-screen, but we can assume that after Billy went back on the bus, it fell over the cliff it was teetering on and he didn’t make it out in time.

So why did the show go this route? It was actually actor Taye Diggs, who has portrayed Coach Baker from the very first season, who decided to leave the sports drama. He’s ready to pursue other acting opportunities. While we’re certainly going miss him and Billy, we can’t fault the actor for wanting to see what else is out there in the industry.

All American season 5 airs episodes Monday nights on The CW.