Interesting situation

[Nevadaref]

Given that the VAST majority of people who serve as scorers and timers are not well-versed in the rules, it is quite reasonable to expect that such a situation is not going to follow perfect protocol.

The coach is probably just going to tell the guy at the table, "Give me a time-out." After that things are likely to follow different paths. Some scorers/timers are going to ignore the coach, some won't know what to do at all, and some will try to get the attention of an official.

IMO once the official learns of the situation, it seems that the ONLY reasonable course of action is to grant the time-out request. As I wrote before, it was being requested at a proper time and by a proper individual.
I still think that anyone who wants to make a big deal out of a HC getting a time-out in this manner is missing the big picture and being small and petty.