Co-Founder | Executive Director

Human Performance Authority | National Champion Athlete | Elite Coach

Nicholas Lara brings over two decades of experience in human performance, competitive athletics, and health optimization. As a nationally recognized athlete, coach, and co-founder of Defiance Health, he has dedicated his professional life to advancing the science and art of performance, longevity, and wellness—what may be considered the highest form of athleticism: thriving in the sport of life.

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Athletic Excellence & Competitive Credibility

Nick's career in athletics is both deep and decorated. A graduate of Adams State University, he earned seven NCAA Division II national titles and 13 All-American honors in middle-distance running—one of the most demanding disciplines in sport. His achievements secured his place in the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Hall of Fame and the RMAC All-Centennial Team. These accolades are more than milestones—they are evidence of lived experience at the highest levels of performance.

After competing, Nick transitioned seamlessly into coaching, where his teams continued to reflect his commitment to excellence. At Adams State and Southern Connecticut State University, he helped guide multiple national championship teams and earned recognition as the 2011 Division II East Region Assistant Coach of the Year. In 2014, he led the middle distance & distance track and field program at Johnson & Wales University, where his athletes quickly qualified for national competition. In 2019 he led the resurgence of the cross country program at MSU Denver, where his leadership has produced All-Americans, school record-holders, and athletes recognized for both academic and athletic performance.

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Academic & Professional Foundations

Nick holds a master’s degree in Healthcare Administration, along with academic training in human performance and physical education. Combined with years of direct supervision in numerous clinical settings Nicholas possesses the clinical knowledge and performance expertise to inform his integrated, whole-person approach. His work bridges the divide between athletics, medicine, and lifestyle—grounded in evidence-based practice and driven by an unwavering focus on long-term outcomes.

Visionary Leadership at Defiance Health

In co-founding Defiance Health, Nick created a platform for next-generation health strategy. The practice reflects his belief that high performance should be accessible not just to athletes, but to anyone seeking to move, feel, and live at their highest potential. Under his leadership, Defiance Health brings together advanced diagnostics, precision supplementation, hormone optimization, regenerative therapies, and coaching-based care—all rooted in the pursuit of longevity, vitality, and resilience.

Defiance Health is well-positioned to serve the post-collegiate and elite athlete population from a multitude of sports, providing customized performance and recovery programs designed to extend competitive careers, and reduce long-term risk.

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Commitment to Human Potential

Nick Lara’s life’s work is devoted to pushing the boundaries of what people are capable of—whether on the track, in a boardroom, or managing the demands of a full and healthy life. His credibility stems not only from his accolades, but from the discipline, vision, and integrity with which he leads.

Through Defiance Health, he continues to shape a new standard in performance-based healthcare, where optimization is not a luxury, but a necessary tool for a life well-lived.