Nicholaus grew up in the small town of Argyle, WI where he played baseball during the fall, spring, and summer months. Following high school he attended the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse where he majored in Exercise and Sports Science and minored in Nutrition.

Throughout college Nicholaus worked as a personal trainer at the recreational center on campus. To complete his college degree, Nicholaus interned at Iowa State University working primarily with wrestling, swimming, diving, and basketball athletes. Immediately following college, Nicholaus became a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist through the NSCA and began personal training. After a year, Nicholaus moved to the Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas region to work with middle and high school athletes.

While in Texas, Nicholaus had the opportunity to work with and learn from some of the most successful youth strength coaches in the country. During this time, he worked with hundreds of different youth athletes of varying ages, abilities, and sports goals. More recently, Nicholaus resides in Minnesota where he continues to work as a youth strength and conditioning coach.