U to honor legendary women’s basketball coach

For nearly three decades, Elaine Elliot was the model of strong leadership and professionalism at her chosen vocation of coaching college basketball. From 1982-2010, she won 582 games as head coach of the University of Utah women’s basketball program—the most in school history.

Those wins led to 15 conference championship titles, 14 NCAA tournament bids, including two Sweet 16 appearances and the Elite Eight in 2006. She also won 20 or more games in 20 separate seasons.

Her tenure also included five District Coach of the Year awards from the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association and she was honored as the John Wooden National Coach of the Year in 2001.

Those accolades and her commitment to the student athletes she dedicated her professional life to will be recognized in a ceremony at halftime of the game versus Cincinnati on Feb. 14, 2026, as a banner emblazoned with the number “582” will be raised to the rafters of the Jon M. Huntsman Center. Click here for event information and registration.

“This kind of recognition from a university in the world of basketball is unmatched and, of course, unreachable without the gifted athletes who accomplished all of it,” Elliott said.

In addition to being the winningest coach in program history, she is also the winningest head coach in Mountain West Conference women’s basketball history. She was inducted into the Utah Sports Hall of Fame in 2016 and the Boise State Athletics Hall of Fame, Class of 1983.

Elliott is embarking on a second career as the color commentary analyst for the home games of the 2025-26 season on the Utes’ ESPN+ broadcasts alongside play-by-play announcer Krista Blunk.

Elliott coached 16 players to All-America honors and had four players drafted into the WNBA. She was inducted into the Utah Athletics Hall of Fame in 2014 and coached seven players who are also in the Utah Athletics Hall of Fame. In addition, her 2006 team was inducted into the Utah Athletics Hall of Fame in 2023.

“Nobody successfully coaches who doesn’t appreciate first and foremost the people that share it,” she said. “Coaches and players who have found their successes bring me ongoing joy.”

On being a leader of elite competitors for 27 years, Elliott said, “I wanted to be a better coach and person. I always questioned myself and never thought I knew it all.”

Regarding the impact she had on her assistant coaches and players over the years, she feels proud to have mentored so many exceptional young women.

“Everyone leaves their own legacy,” Elliott said. “I’m just one experience in their own journey.”

“I’m excited to honor and celebrate the legacy of Elaine Elliott,” said Charmelle Green, the U’s deputy athletics director and chief operating officer. “Her achievements speak for themselves, and raising a banner in her honor stands as a powerful testament to all she has done for the University of Utah, our women’s basketball program and girls and women in sports.”