David William Rankin (February 2, 1919 – December 8, 2006) was an American football player and track athlete and coach.

He was a consensus first-team All-American at the end position at Purdue University in 1940.

[2] During World War II, he served as a fighter pilot in the United States Marine Corps.

He later worked as the head coach of the Purdue track team from 1946 to 1981.

He was also the U.S. track team coach at the 1975 World University Games.