Dan was born December 16, 1968 in Billings, Montana, and is a fifth generation Montana cowboy. He grew up in the suburb of Lockwood, southeast of Billings, with his mother, father, and three sisters. He was the youngest in the family and attended Lockwood Schools from kindergarten through ninth grade. He participated in Little League and wrestling, but Youth Rodeo was his favorite pass time. At age six, Dan won his first completion in team-roping. By age ten he was participating in his first rodeo in steer riding, goat tying, and flag racing. At age twelve he started riding bulls.

Dan's mother, Sheryl, has worked at Lockwood Schools for over twenty-five years as a teaching assistant and is currently the health clerk for the school nurse. She also attended Lockwood School from second grade to high school. Dan's father, Mort, worked for many years as an electrician and is now retired. Two of Dan's sisters, Denise and Darcy, live in Lockwood with their families and both have children attending school there. His oldest sister, Dawn, lives in Highwood, MT, with her family. Dan has five nieces and five nephews.

After college, Dan lived in Manhattan, MT for several years. In 2003, he purchased forty acres in Lockwood, build a new house, and again calls Lockwood his home. He has a large shop where he enjoys one of his favorite activities, woodworking. He also likes to hunt and fish when he has time away from the rodeo.

On October 15, 2002, an eighteen foot, ton-and-a-half bronze statue of Dan on the bronc Tee Box was installed by the northwest entrance of Metra Park in Billings. The statue is the focal point of a "Wall of Fame" honoring Montana cowgirls and cowboys. Dan achieved another landmark for a saddle bronc rider when he became the first roughstock cowboy in PRCA history to go over the $2 million mark in career earnings. He accomplished this at the Pendleton Oregon Round-up in the fall of 2003.

On September 17, 2004, Dan was inducted into the Montana State University Athletic Hall of Fame. In a ceremony at the Strand Union Building on the campus of Montana State University in Bozeman, Montana, Dan was honored for his accomplishments during his rodeo career at the university from 1989-91, as well as for his exceptional achievements as a professional rodeo athlete.

On October 29, 2004, Dan was married to Darla Scheirbaum in Kansas City. They met when he was participating in a rodeo there.