A 1990 graduate of Shawnee Mission South High School in Overland Park, Ryan was a 1st Team All-State player in both football and baseball. He was also named 1st Team All Sunflower League and 1st Team All Metropolitan Kansas City in both sports.

Ryan was an outstanding defensive catcher for Butler Community College in 1991 and 1992. The Grizzlies were Region VI Champions both seasons and compiled a 48-11 record in 1992. The 48 wins are still the school record and Ryan was a team captain. Individually, he was named 1st Team All Jayhawk Conference and 1st Team All Region VI as well as 1st Team NJCAA Academic All American.

He went on to play at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia and finished his career at Kansas State University. At K-State, Ryan was named Academic All Big 8.

During the summers, Ryan played in the Ban Johnson collegiate league in Kansas City. He was a five-time Ban Johnson All-Star and, in March 2002, was one of only three catchers named to their 75th Anniversary Team.

Dixon graduated from the University of Kansas Law School in 1998 and had a private law practice until becoming the Presiding Judge of the Overland Park Municipal Court in 2011. Ryan was also an assistant baseball coach for Head Coach Bill McDonald for over 10 seasons at Shawnee Mission South and Blue Valley West high schools from 1996 to 2010.

Ryan and his wife, Norma, live in Overland Park.