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In defense of her title, Mirai Nagasu finished fifth at the 2009 U.S. Championships. (Getty Images)

(05/20/2009) - COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Mirai Nagasu, the 2008 U.S. champion and a two-time world junior medalist, announced Wednesday she has ended her three-year professional relationship with coach Charlene Wong and will train with Frank Carroll at the Toyota Sports Center in El Segundo, Calif.

Nagasu had trained with Wong since October 2006.

"At the end of the season, I felt like I really needed a change," Nagasu said. "After a lot of thought and deliberation, we decided that the right choice was to begin training with Mr. Carroll."

Under Carroll, Nagasu will train alongside two-time U.S. and reigning world champion Evan Lysacek.

"I'm very excited to be training with Evan," Nagasu said. "Training at the same rink as the current world champion is a great motivation -- exactly what I need moving into the Olympic year."

Carroll's former students include nine-time U.S. champion, five-time world champion and two-time Olympic medalist Michelle Kwan; four-time U.S champion and two-time world champion Linda Fratianne; and two-time U.S. champion and two-time world medalist Christopher Bowman.

Carroll was inducted into the U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame in 1996 and the World Figure Skating Hall of Fame in 2007.

"Charlene and I have been through a lot together," Nagasu said. "She's always been there for me and has been a huge part of my journey to this point."

In 2008, Nagasu, at 14 years and 9 months, became the youngest U.S. ladies champion since Tara Lipinski and the second-youngest U.S. ladies champion ever. She is the first lady since Joan Tozzer (1937-38) to win the U.S. junior and senior titles in consecutive years.