CHAMPAIGN  On the sidelines during an Illinois game, it is not uncommon for Theresa Grentz to make an impassioned plea or gesture with great animation. She has been known to call a timeout and use the full effects of her voice. It might give the appearance that Grentz is in pure agony, that the growing pressure of women''s college basketball is a burden that might be borne unnecessarily. That coaching isn''t as much fun as it used to be. That would be an incorrect assumption. "(When) you''re young, you''re fiery, you''re extremely demanding," Grentz said. "But as you get older, the one thing is you''re always trying to teach the game. "That''s the fun." With Illinois'' next win, Grentz will become the eighth women''s basketball coach to win 600 games. It is another milestone in a career filled with superlative achievements, including a Women''s Basketball Hall of Fame induction and a stint as the U.S. Olympic coach. Victory No. 600 will further cement her status as one of the sport''s legendary figures. But years from now, Grentz, in her 29th season, likely won''t remember the opponent or the score. That''s for the trivia buffs. But she might well recall the special moments surrounding the scene. "I believe, from the way I was brought up, that you should always celebrate the good times because it''s wonderful for morale," she said. "Because there are so many other tough times, rough times. When the good things are there, you need to take a moment and share." Sharing, her team and staff say, is what got her to this point. Through moves to St. Joseph''s, Rutgers and Illinois, Grentz has maintained a public image  at least on the basketball court  of being a no- nonsense leader with the highest standards, sometimes gregarious, at other times gruff. It is a persona that speaks to her appeal: To this day, in her eighth season at Illinois, Assembly Hall fans cheer eagerly when Grentz gives an official a piece of her mind. In other moments, such as the hundreds of public speaking engagements with community groups or students, she presents a side not often seen by fans who show up at Big Ten arenas. But it''s a side well known to her players. And it''s likely a reason why Grentz will reach 600 wins. When it happens, rest assured the players will show what it means to them. "Every time I say I play for the University of Illinois, people say, ''Oh, what about the coach?'' " Illinois'' Brett Leonard said. "I just laugh because they have no idea. I wish more people knew the real Theresa Grentz because she has one of the biggest hearts of anybody I''ve ever met. She would do anything for us. I truly believe that." Teaching the game, as Grentz said, is one part of what makes her professional life a joy. She is quick to mention the postcards and letters from former players, the relationships built during a lifetime of emotional moments. Those times are nourishment for the system, chicken soup for the coach''s soul. "I like it," Grentz said Thursday before the Illini resumed post-holiday workouts. "Here we are, in the 29th year, and I have fun being with these players. Watching Holly Wilson grow. The challenge of Tiffanie Guthrie and Angelina Williams and these sophomores stepping up to the plate. Watching them grow and develop. Watching Karen Hagberg grow into a beautiful woman, both on and off the floor. "There''s three things I want from kids when they go to school: Become critical thinkers, be problem solvers and be able to express themselves. The same thing I ask of my sons." Grentz''s career has spanned the birth of two sons, mam-moth growth in her sport and a move from the populated, fast-moving East Coast to the corn-fed Midwest. In that time, experience has played the most important factor in how she has evolved as a coach. But there are other, subtle differences. "When I first started coaching, it was, ''We''re going to stay here and do this until we get this right.'' I''ve since learned that''s a fruitless approach," she said. "Now anything over 1 hour and 56 minutes and you''ve lost their attention span. "I''ve always had a lot of patience, to a point. I''ve become more patient, more tolerant. Former players come back and say, ''You never would have stood for that with us.'' But it''s not just about winning. To me, relationships are so important. I''ve coached at St. Joseph''s, at Rutgers, at Illinois, but it''s not where I''ve been but rather who I''ve been with and working together." So win No. 600, whether it happens Sunday against Auburn or Thursday against Indiana or later, won''t be about numbers. For Grentz, those are like mile markers on an interstate highway. "Theresa doesn''t like to make a huge deal out of things like that," said assistant coach Renee Reed, who was on the staff when Grentz achieved No. 500 in a 1997 tournament in Puerto Rico. "She just wants to win one game at a time. "I think it''s just a reminder that we work for somebody who is at the top of the game of women''s basketball. I''m proud of Theresa, and I''m proud to work for her. It''s awesome to be on a staff of someone who has achieved that. Talk about a mentor and a role model. It''s just a reminder to us (as a staff) that we should be thankful for the situation we''ve got." And, a few years from now, don''t be surprised if Grentz  50 and signed to June 2004  is answering questions about No. 700. "One time  I must have been going for 400  they asked me about it, and I said, ''Honestly, my sons will one day probably be saying, ''We''ve got to go to Grandma''s game tonight. Grandma''s going for 1,000.'' I''ll keep doing it as long as I enjoy it. I don''t think you look at it and say you''ve got to retire when you get to this age. I look at my role models: (Gen. George) Patton, Benjamin Franklin and Mother Teresa. None of those people retired. So retirement is not something I''m looking at."