In 1998, he led Odd Grenland to promotion to the Norwegian top division, and to a respectable seventh place the next season. In 2000, he took over big club Vålerenga, but was fired after a season that led to Vålerenga's relegation from the Norwegian top division. After working as a football expert in TV 2 for a while, Nordlie was hired as coach of Sandefjord. He led the club to the promotion play-offs in both 2002 and 2003, but lost both times. In 2004, he took over the struggling Start, and in his first season in charge, Start won the 1. divisjon and were promoted. In their return to the top flight, Start had a great spring season, and won the silver medals, only one point behind winners Vålerenga. For this feat, Nordlie won the Kniksen award as (Head) Coach of the Year.