Michael A. Haywood. - 1982

Michael Haywood came to St. Thomas from St. Peter’s Elementary School in 1978.  Encouraged by coach Jim Schwarzbach, his goal to be on a Texas State Champion team was attained his senior year when he rushed 51 yards for one of his two touchdowns that beat Dallas Jesuit 35 – 7 for the TCIL State Championship in 1981.

Mike also played basketball and baseball for four years at St. Thomas, and was a star track runner for three years. He lettered in all four sports more than once, while remaining on the Honor Roll and participating on the Student Council during his junior and senior years.  
 
Recruited by many universities nationwide to play football, Michael chose Notre Dame where he earned his degree with a major in Government and Communications. Mike was an outstanding wide receiver for one year and defensive back for three years for the Fighting Irish, until his playing career was cut short with a knee injury during his senior year in a game against Alabama.

Mike pursued a graduate degree at the University of Minnesota, while also coaching kick-off and punt returners for the university team. In 1989, he moved to the US Military Academy at West Point where he coached defensive ends and was the Special Teams Coordinator for two years. In 1991, he moved to Ohio University and Ball State University for two years each, before beginning an eight-year coaching career at LSU as a running back coach and Special Teams Coordinator. Mike helped produce some of the finest running backs in LSU history, which made them the best in the SEC and ranked 7th nationally with kick off and punt returns.   

In 2003, Mike moved back to Texas to be the running back coach and Co-Special Teams Coordinator for UT while also acting as recruiting coordinator concentrating on Texas, Louisiana and Florida. In his second year, UT won the Rose Bowl.

In 2005, Mike returned to Notre Dame as the offensive coordinator and running backs coach, and was named the 2005 AFCA Assistant Coach of the year. Mike has been recruiting players for the Fighting Irish from Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Michigan, and Oklahoma, while coaching at Notre Dame. Throughout his college coaching career, Mike has been responsible for helping many college football players become outstanding NFL players.