Having passed all the categories in the club, in 1975, Pavličević became Mirko Novosel's assistant coach in the senior team of Cibona. In 1984–85 he was promoted to head coach, but only in domestic competitions. In his first season as head coach with Cibona, won the Yugoslav Cup and the Yugoslav League. As assistant coach he took part in the winning of the first title of European Champions Cup with Cibona in Athens Peace and Friendship Stadium against Real Madrid. The following season, as head coach of Cibona both in domestic and European competitions and with the roster weakened by the loss of Andro Knego in Cajamadrid, but refreshed with newcomer Dražen Petrović, won the Yugoslav Cup and became back to back European champion in Budapest against the Soviet champions Žalgiris. This match was marked by the participation of the two best European players, Petrović and the Lithuanian center Arvydas Sabonis.
Spain
After the three seasons with Cibona, Pavličević accepted his first international bid and coached the Spanish club OAR Ferrol, later becoming the club's sports director. During the 1989–90 season, he was hired by the Spanish first league club of Taugrés Vitoria.
For the 1991–92 season, Pavličević joined Panathinaikos and created the backbone of the club's future success. In 1992–93 with the arrival of Nikos Galis, Stojan Vranković, Arijan Komazec and Tiit Sokk the team won only the Greek Cup against Aris. The Championship final against arch-rival Olympiacos was controversial, given the club's decision not to play a third decisive game. The next season despite the coming of Alexander Volkov and participation in the Final Four of Tel Aviv, he was fired in late 1993.
Decline
Pavličević was sports director of selection for the Basketball Association of Croatia from 1996 to 1998. At the invitation of Croatia Osiguranje during the 1996–97 season he coached the team again. In early 2003 Japanese Basketball Federation offered him a position coaching the Japanese national basketball team. It was a cycle of four years as a preparation for the World Basketball Championship in Japan in 2006. The national team progressed significantly, and held the largest seminar for coaches in the history of Japan with over 900 participants. In 2007–08 he coached Zagreb, with which he won the Krešimir Ćosić Cup, the first trophy in the club's history. At the invitation of Shimane Susanoo Club Magica, member BJL in summer 2010, he became head coach and remained for three seasons, reaching the playoffs each season. He coached Wakayama Trians NBL National basketball L. Japan in 2013–14.
