Ronald Swann graduated from Hanceville High School in 1965. He married and started a family before graduating from the University of Montevallo in 1977.

After serving as an assistant coach at Jemison High School, he became Head Coach and Athletic Director there in 1979 with a record of 60-27-1, winning three regional championships in his eight year tenure. Jemison enjoyed its first 10-0 regular season and 11-0 regular season in 1982. This success led to Swann's being selected to represent district three as a coach in the North-South All-Star football game played at Auburn University in 1984.

Ronald assumed the position of Head Coach and Athletic Director at Handley High School in Roanoke, Alabama for the next two years, before moving to W. A. Berry High School in Hoover, Alabama in 1990 as defensive coordinator.

In 1992 Ronald moved into administration starting the Hoover City School's Alternative Learning Program before returning to the high school in 1998 as assistant principal and then athletic director in 1999. Serving five years in that position. While he was athletic director the high school enjoyed one of the most prestigious periods in school history, producing 28 State Championships in that five year period. Under his leadership the school moved from one booster club, The Big Orange Booster Club. This created twelve separate team clubs which produced a four fold increase in revenue at the end of the first year. In addition to duties as AD, Ronald served the AHSAA as a Leadership Instructor for the NFHS in several states.

After retiring from public education in July of 2004, Ronald immediately assumed the position as Director of Marketing for the Alabama High School Athletic Association. After completing a year in this position, Ronald worked in the public sector for a few years before returning to his true calling as Athletic Director at Shades Mountain Christian School in Hoover, Alabama, he helped stabilize the new football program before returning to the AHSAA as the Fifth District Compliance Officer for seven years.

Ronald refers to himself as a recovering coach after almost forty years of service in high school athletics by saying he goes to meetings regularly by attending or watching high school sporting events.