Haywood seeks Pitt investigation

PITTSBURGH (AP) - Michael Haywood, who was fired on Jan. 1, 16 days after being hired as Pitt's football coach, has asked the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission and other state and federal agencies to investigate his termination by the university, his lawyer said on Tuesday.

In a letter sent to Pitt, Tony Buzbee, Haywood's attorney, raised concerns about the school's lack of investigation. Haywood, who left his post at Miami, Ohio to take the Panthers job, was arrested Dec. 31, in South Bend, Ind., on a felony domestic battery charge.

"In their rush to judgment, Pitt officials did not bother to contact the alleged victim or even the coach himself," Buzbee said. "I believe the university violated its contract with the coach, the university's employment procedures, and the Due Process Clause of the U.S. Constitution.

"Had Pitt conducted even a cursory investigation, it would have determined that the alleged incident simply did not occur as reported, and the termination would not have occurred. We are exploring other motives for Pitt's firing of Coach Haywood."

Haywood's five-year contract with Pitt would have paid him up to $7.5 million, plus other incentives, Buzbee said. Haywood seeks a state investigation and a meeting with university officials.