Notre Dame offensive coordinator Mike Haywood, who was excused from practice by Charlie Weis earlier this week for "personal reasons," reportedly is expected to meet with University of Washington athletic department officials to discuss the job opening left vacate by the firing of head coach Tyrone Willingham, IrishIllustrated.com reported Wednesday.

The web site reported that Haywood was scheduled to arrive in Seattle on Wednesday night.

Haywood returned to his home in Houston last week following the death of his cousin, but Haywood's personal issues this week were not connected to last week's family tragedy.

According to IrishIllustrated.com, Haywood has connections to the Washington. Huskies athletic director Scott Woodward, who took over the job in mid-September of this year, is the former director of external affairs in the Office of the Chancellor at Louisiana State University, where Haywood served on the Tigers' coaching staff from 1995-2002.

Washington president Mark A. Emmert served as chancellor at Louisiana State and hired Woodward to his post in Seattle.

Haywood called Woodward "a very good friend" when discussing Notre Dame's trip to Seattle four weeks ago to take on the Huskies, IrishIllustrated.com reported.

There was speculation that Haywood was looking for an escape route from Notre Dame when Weis announced that he would be retaining play-calling responsibilities this weekend against Syracuse. Weis, who called plays his first three years at Notre Dame before handing those duties over to Haywood this season, reclaimed the play-calling last week for Saturday's victory over Navy.

According to IrishIllustrated.com, Haywood's name has been linked with several head coaching vacancies in recent years, including the Houston job a year ago, which eventually went to Kevin Sumlin. Haywood has coached for some of the biggest names in the college ranks, including Nick Saban, and Mack Brown.

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