Cohen was a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame Board of Trustees, a member of the United States Olympic Basketball Committee, and a member of the Amateur Basketball Association USA, representing the National Jewish Welfare Board.

He was president of the United States Committee Sports For Israel (Maccabi USA/Sports for Israel) from 1961 to 1969 and was a principal member of that organization at its very beginning. From 1981 to 1989, Cohen was the first chairman of the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame Selection Committee. Cohen is the first non-Israeli to receive the Israel Olympic Medal and has been U.S. chairman of the Hapoel Games in Israel.

AYeshiva student and Boston University journalism graduate, Cohen held the post of sports editor for the Jewish Telegraph Agency for 17 years. As a longtime contributing editor to America’s Parade Sunday newspaper magazine supplement, he originated the National Association of College Basketball Coaches All-America Team and the High School All-America
Team.