Phil Tomkiel earned numerous awards during his coaching career, including Division I Western Mass Coach of the Year (ten times), USA Wrestling Man of the Year, Agawam UNICO Man of the Year, and NFICA National Coach of the Year in 1977. He is a member of the Mass Coaches Association 200 Win Club and the New England Coaches Hall of Fame.

Phil began wrestling at Chestnut Junior High School under Coach Fred Scyocurka. He continued with Coach Scyocurka at Springfield's Technical High School, where he was Western Mass Champion at 112 pounds in 1968. After an additional year of wrestling for Coach Doug Parker at Springfield College, financial circumstances forced Phil to prioritize work over wrestling during his college years.

In 1974, Phil pioneered the Agawam High School wrestling program. Despite not having a youth feeder program, Phil's dedication and hard work led Agawam to compile an overall record, over the next 22 years, of 288 wins and 60 losses. During his tenure, Agawam won 48 consecutive dual meets against Division I and II teams, and was Division I West Champion for ten consecutive years. Agawam also won the Division I State Championship in both 1988 and 1995, as well as several Commonwealth Cup tournaments. At Agawam, Phil was fortunate to work with many talented and dedicated wrestlers. His program produced 70 Western Mass champions, two New England champions and one National All American.

Phil retired from coaching in 1999 and from teaching in 2008. He currently owns Coach T's Sports Bar & Grill in Feeding Hills, where he enjoys seeing former students and wrestlers. He is especially proud of his daughters Elizabeth and Melissa, his three grandchildren, and his two step-grandchildren.