LOS ANGELES -- Michelle Kwan has switched figure skating coaches again, leaving Scott Williams for jump technician Rafael Arutunian.

Kwan, a seven-time national champion, including every title since 1998, and five-time world champ, joined with Arutunian last month. She previously worked with him part-time before the 2002 Olympics, where she finished third.

For Kwan, Arutunian is her third coach since 2001. She was developed by Frank Carroll, but they split in October 2001 and Kwan skated in the Salt Lake City Olympics without a coach.

She began working with Williams before the 2002-03 season, in which she won the national and world titles. Although she became only the third American to win five world titles, the victory was based more on her famed artistry than technical skill.

Arutunian also coached Alexander Abt, a Russian who trained at Lake Arrowhead, Calif., when Kwan also practiced there.

Kwan told the L.A. Times that she chose Aruntunian because of his aggressive approach.

"I need to start training hard and skate more," Kwan told the newspaper. "I have to keep on pushing myself and keep moving because the competition is becoming extreme, with triple-triples and triple axels. I have to keep up with the times."

Kwan's next event is Friday night at the International Figure Skating Challenge in Auburn Hills, Mich. She is expected to compete at the U.S. championships in January in Atlanta, even though she skipped the Grand Prix series this year. She has not made an official announcement, however, about her competitive plans for nationals or worlds, which are in March.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.