Eric Rankin graduated from Knoxville High School in Knoxville, Iowa, in 1984.  He went on to MidAmerica Nazarene University where, in 1988, he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Education.  He has since completed two Master of Science degrees from Northern Illinois University - one in Curriculum and Instruction in 2001 and another in Administration in 2004.

Mr. Rankin and his wife, Beth, who is also a teacher at Dakota, have two sons and a daughter.

Mr. Rankin begain teaching in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1989 as a Buisness teacher at O'Hara High School.  In 1996 he accepted a position teaching business at Dakota High School and became Assistant Principal/Dean of Students in 2001.  He has also served as Athletic Director since 2005.