He was initially hired as the head football coach at the University of Pittsburgh in December 2010, but was fired from that position shortly thereafter following domestic violence charges that he pleaded guilty to and received a plea deal agreed to by victim.
He attended St. Thomas High School in Houston and then the University of Notre Dame where he played as a wide receiver wearing jersey #1.
Haywood served as an assistant at several college football programs, most notably under Nick Saban at LSU, under Mack Brown at Texas and under Charlie Weis at his alma mater Notre Dame.
In December 2007, Haywood was considered one of the two leading candidates for the head coaching position at the University of Houston, alongside Jack Pardee.
[6] In February 2012, the domestic violence charges were dismissed after Haywood completed pre-trial diversion requirements, counseling, and public service.