Haywood has been officially fired as Pittsburgh’s head coach, effective immediately, less then two weeks after he was hired away from Miami of Ohio to replace coach Dave Wannstedt. At the time, Pitt athletic director Steve Pederson called Haywood “a man of character and integrity” who “will be an inspirational leader for our football team.
Today, the university released a statement in which chancellor Mark Nordenberg said coaches “are expected to maintain high standards of personal conduct and to avoid situations that might reflect negatively on the university.” Presumably, the start of a new search for Haywood’s replacement is also effective immediately. Haywood was arrested on Friday, after an apparent custody dispute with a woman with whom he has a child with led to an altercation, according to St. Joseph County Police, who said the woman told them Haywood “grabbed her by the arm and neck and pushed her as she tried to leave” the house with the child. She reportedly had corroborating marks on her neck, arm and back. Haywood told the Pittsburgh Tribune Review after his release this morning that the arrest “isn’t fair” and “the truth will eventually come out.”Haywood’s domestic assault charge has been upgraded to a felony.
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