Coach Fired from Team and Barred from Home

From South Bend Ind., a football coach that lost his job within three weeks of a domestic violence charge, pleaded not guilty on January 3, as reported in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

University of Pittsburgh's former coach, Michael Haywood, 46, told police that the altercation between his accuser, Beth Marriott, 38, and himself began when she chose to lock him out of the home they shared in South Bend after an argument.

The not guilty plea was entered for Mr. Haywood by Magistrate Brian Steinke.  He also has ordered that Haywood have no contact with Marriot.

Marriott, the mother of Haywood's one year-old son, contends that she had grown suspicious of Haywood and a possible involvement with another woman.  In court documents she told Officer Diana Landry, of the St. Joseph County police, that she barricaded the door to their home because Haywood had given copies of his house keys to many people.

After spending one night in a South Bend Hotel, Haywood returned to his home to try the entry again the next day.  He forced the door open this time, and used his cellular phone to photograph the blue pole that had been used as a makeshift barricade.

Marriott and Haywood then became engaged in a verbal argument, which led Marriott to make the decision to get into a car to drive herself and her child to her brother's home.  Haywood attempted to remove the child from the car and, in doing so, had to wrap his arm around Marriott's neck and toss her back into a wheelbarrow.

Marriott contended that she felt a pop in her neck, but no pain, and some "burning and tingling" in her arm.   Officer Landry documented seeing darkened red marks on Marriott's neck and jaw, a raised mark on her back and redness on her right arm.

Haywood countered this story by stating that since he didn't give Marriott permission to take his car, or want him to take his child, he pushed Marriott away from him as he tried to stop her.  He further claimed that he helped her back up and then contacted his attorney. 

Haywood said that Marriott's face and neck always redden when she is distraught.

When police arrived Marriott produced a temporary custody order that named her alone as the child's primary caregiver.

Haywood was arrested and charged with domestic battery in the presence of a minor - a class D felony in Indiana that carries a sentence of six months to three years.

A few hours later Pitt Chancellor Mark Nordenberg announced that Haywood was fired as the Panthers' head coach.  It had been 16 short days since he had been hired from the Miami University in Ohio.

Attorney Andre Gammage is defending Haywood. 

St. Joseph County prosecuting attorney, Michael Dvorak, believes that the case will be going to trial.  He said, "The standard we impose upon ourselves is we don't charge not only unless we feel we have probable cause, but unless we believe we can prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt to a jury." 

If have been charged with domestic violence due to problems in your home life, click here to contact a family law attorney from our directory to help you with your defense.