The England and Wales Cricket Board announced on Wednesday that the 60-year-old Tasmanian will become men's elite national pace bowling lead, overseeing the development and coaching of England Lions and Young Lions' quicks.
It's effectively back to the future for England, who employed the former quick, one of the game's most highly-regarded fast-bowling coaches, between 2003 and 2006, including their famed 2005 Ashes triumph when he helped hone Andrew Flintoff, Steve Harmison, Simon Jones and Matthew Hoggard.
Cooley subsequently spent 15 years as a coach with Cricket Australia's National Performance Programme before his most recent role, since 2021, as fast bowling coach with India's National Cricket Academy.
"Troy is one of the very best coaches in the world whose record over more than two decades speaks for itself," said Rob Key, managing director of England men's cricket.
"He has coached and developed the best pace bowlers in all conditions and his vast experience and knowledge will not only benefit the England Men's team but also help to nurture the next wave of fast-bowling talent.
"This role will see him to work with pace bowlers and coaches at all levels of the men's professional game as we look to build a structure for sustainable success."
Cooley said: "Joining the ECB is an exciting opportunity to help shape the next phase of England's pace‑bowling future - bringing together the art of performance and the science of long‑term development.
"England's pace‑bowling talent and identity are world‑class."
His reintegration into the England set-up coincides with the team's tour in Sri Lanka for a white-ball series, before they tackle the T20 World Cup next month, but it's not come as a knee-jerk reaction to the recent Ashes hammering when the visiting quicks never fired as hoped.
Rather, it had been in the pipeline for some time, as England were looking to find a full-time pace coach with the team for the first time since Jon Lewis left in 2022. Another Australian David Saker has worked as one of their fast-bowling consultants, as has all-time great Jimmy Anderson.
One area of weakness where England have immediately responded following the Ashes calamity is in fielding, after they spilled 18 chances over the series.
They've re-hired former Sussex batter Carl Hopkinson, who left the set-up at the end of 2024, as a specialist fielding coach, with a view to helping them in Sri Lanka and at the World Cup.
"We felt like it was a good decision to bring in a fielding coach and try to make that area of our game a little more neat. It can win you a game," said England white-ball captain Harry Brook.
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