George Durkin Corneal (September 13, 1883 – December 28, 1944) was an American basketball, track and football coach. In 1909, he became the first basketball coach at the University of Michigan and led the Michigan Wolverines basketball team to a 1–4 record. He also coached football, track, and basketball at the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point and Lakewood High School. Early years Corneal was born in Philadelphia in 1883. He graduated from Temple University and attended the University of Pennsylvania and Yale University where he studied under legendary track trainer and coach Mike Murphy. His early coaching jobs included coaching track and field at the Brown Preparatory School in Philadelphia and the University of Chicago, before moving to Ohio State University in 1907. University of Michigan In the fall of 1907, he was hired as the assistant in physical training at the University of Michigan's Waterman Gymnasium. While at Michigan, he also served as the coach of the school's first varsity basketball team in 1909. The Michigan Alumnus announced the formation of the team in January 1909:"For the first time in the history of the University there is to be a varsity basketball team. Realizing the demand for an indoor winter sport and the presence of good material in college, the athletic authorities passed a resolution providing for a basketball team and granted them a schedule of seven or eight games for this season. Coach Corneal finds himself up against the same proposition that always faces Coach Yost and Keene Fitzpatrick. His best men are ineligible and his 'reserves' consequently give his varsity a drubbing almost every evening when they line up in practice games. ... However, the coach is working hard and admits that he expects to have a good team rounded out by the time the first game is played with M.A.C." The Michigan team compiled a record of 1–4 under Corneal. Boise and Rock Island After leaving Michigan, Corneal coached for a time at the Normal School in Boise, Idaho. At the time of the 1910 Census, Corneal was living in Boise and identified his occupation as a school teacher. From 1911 to 1914, Corneal was the basketball coach at Rock Island High School in Rock Island, Illinois. In three seasons at Rock Island, Corneal's teams compiled a record of 19–18. Stevens Point For three academic years from 1914 to 1917, Corneal was the athletic director and head