Elliott, though, wouldn't allow it. She quickly hustled her team into the locker room for a few hugs and couple of loud whoops but little else following an impressive 73-57 win Thursday night.
Elliott, 500-199 during her storied 24-season Utah career, has always done things in a quiet manner, and this muted celebration was vintage stuff.
"It was cute to see the players get so excited because I know this means a lot to them," Elliott said, clutching two red bouquets - one roses, one carnations. "It also means a lot to me, but reaching 500 is just a byproduct of great players, a great university and a great place to work. It has been a great journey for me."
At times, Elliott said, she wondered if she would reach 500 this season. The Utes (10-6, 3-0 Mountain West Conference) started 1-4 and very easily could have been 0-5. Now, one year removed from a trip to the Elite Eight, they are in their familiar perch atop the MWC standings.
"We really wanted to make sure we got this win for her right away," said sophomore guard Morgan Warburton, who led all scorers with 20 points. "She has worked so hard to get where she's at. I love playing for her because never tears you down as a player - she always builds you up. At the same time, she hates to lose, and so do we."
In many ways, this was a typical Elliott-coached win. The outgunned Rams (6-9, 1-2) hung around for the first 26 minutes or so, trailing just 41-35 with 14 minutes to play. But that's when the Utes, always a defensive force, turned up the pressure on both ends of the court, quickly opening a 61-43 lead over the next six minutes.
After the game, second-year CSU coach Jen Warden went to the Utah locker room to congratulate the Utes and their coach.
"Elaine is the class of our conference, without a doubt," Warden said. "She clearly belongs among the great coaches in our game. The true test of any coach is time, and when you have won 500 games, you have passed the test of time. And the best thing is she has done it in a first-class way."
Elliott smiled when asked what she might do on a snowy night 500 miles from home to celebrate her achievement.
"I was hoping my assistants and I might have time for a drink, but we'll probably just have to go back to the hotel and watch film," she said. "We've got a tough game coming up Saturday at UNLV."
