Fansided

25 worst college football coaching hires in history

By Nicholas Ian Allen

PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 1: Head coach Mike Price of the Washington State University Cougars manages the game from the sidelines during the 89th Rose Bowl game against University of Oklahoma Sooners at the Rose Bowl on January 1, 2003 in Pasadena, California. Oklahoma defeated Washington St. 34-14. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 1: Head coach Mike Price of the Washington State University Cougars manages the game from the sidelines during the 89th Rose Bowl game against University of Oklahoma Sooners at the Rose Bowl on January 1, 2003 in Pasadena, California. Oklahoma defeated Washington St. 34-14. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images) /
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PITTSBURGH – DECEMBER 16: The new University of Pittsburgh head football coach, Mike Haywood, speaks during a press conference on December 16, 2010 at the University of Pittsburgh Panthers South Side training facility in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH – DECEMBER 16: The new University of Pittsburgh head football coach, Mike Haywood, speaks during a press conference on December 16, 2010 at the University of Pittsburgh Panthers South Side training facility in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images) /

7. Mike Haywood, Pitt

  • Hired: December 2010
  • Fired: January 2011
  • Record at Pitt: 0-0 (.000)
  • Career head coaching record: 14-22 (.389)

Mike Haywood was a wide receiver at Notre Dame from 1984-86, and began his college coaching career as a graduate assistant at Minnesota. After working his way up the coaching ladder, with stops at Army, Ohio, Ball State, LSU, Texas and his alma mater, Haywood was named head coach at Miami University in 2009.

The Redhawks were just 1-11 in Haywood’s first year in Oxford, but Haywood orchestrated a dramatic turnaround in Year 2. Miami finished 10-4 overall and 7-1 in the Mid-American Conference. The Redhawks beat No. 24 Northern Illinois 26-21 in the MAC Championship Game and added a victory over Middle Tennessee in the GoDaddy.com Bowl.

However, by the time Miami celebrated its first bowl win since 2003, Haywood had already been hired and fired as the head coach of the Pitt Panthers.

Dave Wannstedt resigned as Pitt head coach December 7, 2010 following a 7-5 regular season. Haywood was hired on December 16, and was fired 16 days later after he was arrested and charged with felony domestic battery in the presence of a minor in South Bend, Indiana. Haywood was involved in a custody dispute with the mother of his child.

After Haywood was fired, Pitt hired Todd Graham, who spent just one season with the Panthers before leaving for Arizona State. Including Haywood and interim coaches in both 2010 and 2011, Pitt had six head coaches from 2010-12. The Panthers have yet to win more than eight games in a season or finish in the AP Top 25 since Haywood was hired and fired. Haywood is now the head coach at Texas Southern.

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