HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Ryan Swanson, a former Hutchinson Community College men’s basketball player and head coach and longtime figure in Reno County athletics and business, died following a medical emergency while on vacation in Branson, Missouri.
Swanson grew up in South Hutchinson and was a standout at Hutchinson High School before playing basketball at Hutchinson Community College. As a Blue Dragon, he helped lead HutchCC to the 1988 NJCAA National Championship and was named an Academic All-American in 1989.
He returned to his alma mater as the head men’s basketball coach from 2006-09, compiling a 66-29 record over three seasons. After his tenure at HutchCC, Swanson remained active in the local basketball community, coaching youth teams and later taking over as head boys basketball coach at Buhler High School from 2015 through the 2021-22 season.
Outside of basketball, Swanson and his wife, Robin, founded Phoenix Restoration and Roofing, a Hutchinson-based business providing 24/7 emergency services for water, fire, storm and mold damage, as well as non-emergency carpet and air-duct cleaning.
Funeral arrangements are pending.