Michael Haywood, a Houston native and a four-year letterwinner at Notre Dame (1983-86), is in his second year at Texas. Haywood, a 17-year coaching veteran, serves as UT's running backs coach and assistant special teams coordinator. He was promoted to recruiting coordinator in 2004.

In his first season at Texas the Longhorns ranked fifth nationally (first/Big 12) in rushing at 241.0 yards per game. Texas' 2,892 rushing yards were the most for the Longhorns since 1977 and Cedric Benson rushed for 1,277 yards (No. 7 on the UT all-time single-season list) and 20 TDs (No. 3 on the UT all-time single-season list) en route to All-Big 12 honors. Benson led the nation in scoring at 11.6 points per game.

Haywood previously served as LSU's running backs coach from 1995-2002 and also was the Tigers' special teams coordinator from 1996-2000 as well as his last two seasons.

During his time in Baton Rouge, Haywood helped produce some of the finest running backs in LSU history.

In 2001 and '02, Haywood developed LaBrandon Toefield into one of the SEC's top backs. Toefield tied a conference record with 19 rushing touchdowns in 2001 and finished the year with 992 rushing yards on 230 carries en route to first-team All-SEC honors. The 2000 Freshman All-American ran for 475 yards in 2002 despite missing four games due to a broken forearm. Domanick Davis proved to be the perfect complement to Toefield as he rushed for a team-high 931 yards and seven scores in 2002. In 2001, Davis recorded 406 yards and five TDs during the regular season and added 122 yards and a Sugar Bowl-record four rushing TDs in Toefield's absence.

Toefield (Jacksonville Jaguars) and Davis (Houston Texans) were both selected in the fourth round of the 2003 NFL Draft.

Haywood also was instrumental in developing Kevin Faulk and Rondell Mealey into two of the most productive running backs in school history. Faulk left LSU with virtually every rushing record, while Mealey capped his career ranked in the top 10 in both rushing yards and rushing scores. Both were selected in the NFL Draft following their respective senior seasons. Faulk was chosen by the New England Patriots in the second round, while Mealey was drafted by the Green Bay Packers (7th round).

As special teams coordinator, Haywood had LSU among the best in the SEC in nearly every statistical category. In 2002, the Tigers led the SEC and ranked seventh nationally with a 24.1-yard kickoff return average and third in the league in punt returns (13.9 avg.). Led by P Donnie Jones' 44.0-yard average (fifth NCAA, second SEC), they also stood 12th nationally in net punting on the year. In 2001, LSU ranked eighth in the NCAA in net punting (39.6 avg.) and the Tigers were tops in the league in kickoff coverage, allowing just 15.2 yards per return. Individually, Davis earned second-team All-SEC honors after leading the league in punt returns (13.8 avg.).

Prior to his stint at LSU, Haywood was the position coach for three All-Mid-American Conference players at Ball State from 1993-94. WR Brian Oliver earned All-MAC honors and was tabbed the league's Freshman of the Year in 1993, and one year later, RBs Tony Nibbs and Michael Blair earned all-conference honors. He also served as the Cardinals' special teams coordinator during his two seasons.

Haywood started his coaching career at Minnesota as a graduate assistant in 1988, then went to Army as an assistant coach from 1989-90. He coached the Cadets' defensive backs his first year before mentoring the team's defensive ends in '90. Haywood then moved to Ohio University in '91 where he tutored outside linebackers for two seasons.

As a player at Notre Dame, Haywood played wide receiver during his freshman season, then moved to cornerback where he was a significant contributor and starter in 1984-86.