Tiffany Cohen swam for the Mission Viejo Nadadores and the University of Texas. A distance specialist, Cohen won short-course national titles in 1982 in the 500, 1,000, and 1,650 yard freestyles. Prior to winning her two gold medals in the 400 and 800 freestyles at the 1984 Olympics, Cohen won gold medals at the 1983 Pan American Games in the same events. She also won a bronze medal in the 400 freestyle at the 1982 World Championships. Cohen retired after the 1987 season.
Cohen eventually settled in Florida and worked in business development for hospice care in the state. Her inspiration for this came after her own father needed hospice care. Her daughter swam for the University of Maine.