In the 2011 and 2012 season, Maalen was head coach of Kattem IL's women's team.
They finished in ninth and eleventh place in the seasons Maalen was in charge of the team.
He became assistant coach in Ranheim in 2013, a side then playing in 1. divisjon, the second tier of the Norwegian football league system.
Svein Maalen was appointed as Ranheim's head coach on a permanent basis in October 2015.
Despite coaching the club with the lowest budget in the league, Maalen and Ranheim managed to stay up in their first season back in the top division.