Attended Oklahoma State on a football scholarship, entered the U.S. Army and served with the 101 st Airborne Division in Vietnam. Later returning to College, he received his Bachelor's degree in July of 1972 and became Head Football Coach that same year at Billings high School.
The following year he took the job as assistant coach at Del City and in 1974 as head coach at Chandler where he had Track and Football. 1975 he was named the District Coach of the Year.
1978 he became the Head Coach for Cashion and gathered a 45-6 in four years with Cashion obtaining Class B State Championships in 1979 and 1981.
Following a two-year stint in Noble from 1982 to 1984, Phil coached at Ryan, OK for six years where they were state runners-up in 87, 88 and 89.
Coach Elerick took some time out and returned to school where he obtained his Masters Degree from Southwestern Oklahoma State University in 2001.
He is 35 year member of the OCA, Served as a founder and director of the Oklahoma Eight-Man Coaches Association for 20 years. He has been recognized for 150 career wins.
Phil Elerick was inducted into the Oklahoma Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2009.