Collegiate coach Altamirano ventured into coaching after retiring from playing. His first try was in 1996 when he led the
University of the Philippines (UP)
Fighting Maroons to a Final Four finish. He was the head coach of the
National University Bulldogs from 2011 to 2016. He steered the Bulldogs when the team won their first UAAP men's basketball championship after 60 years in Season 77 men's basketball finals in 2014. After an unsatisfactory performance in Season 79, Altamirano and the rest of his coaching staff led by Vic Ycasiano, Joey Guanio, Paolo Layug, and Anton Altamirano filed their resignation. On December 7, the management of the NU Bulldogs accepted the resignation letter of Altamirano. Altamirano returned to UP in March 2026 as head coach of the women's team.
Pro League coach Altamirano won two championships in the PBA. Before leading Purefoods to a PBA title in 1997, he was
Chot Reyes' assistant coach at Purefoods in 1995 until 1996. After leading the
Cowboys in the All-Filipino Conference, he moved to the
Mobiline Phone Pals and gave them a championship, the
1998 PBA Centennial Cup. But after the 2000 PBA All-Filipino Cup, he was fired together with the whole coaching staff, and replaced by his former assistant
Louie Alas. He returned to Purefoods and gave them a string of decent finishes. He left Purefoods, after being selected by
Jong Uichico as the RP men's basketball team assistant coach. After 2 years of not coaching a PBA team, he coached the
Coca-Cola Tigers during the
2005 PBA Fiesta Conference. Eventually, he was reassigned and appointed as the Project Director for the San Miguel All Stars.
3x3 team coach Altamirano would oversee the
Chooks-to-Go 3x3 teams which competed at the
FIBA 3x3 Men's Pro Circuit for two years. He resigned from his post in November 2020 and was replaced by
Aldin Ayo.
National team coach He was the head coach of the Nokia Pilipinas Under 18 Men's basketball team. Handled of the Nokia Pilipinas Men's National under-16 national basketball team of the Philippines, that placed 4th in the Fiba Asia U 16 Men's Tournament in Johor Bahru in November 2009., and Project Director of the National Basketball Training Center of the
Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, the country's national basketball federation. == Managerial career ==