A number of years ago someone conducted research that determined that there is a certain shade of pink that affects the brain and makes men less aggressive and violent. Prisons started to use it in attempt to cut down on violence. Putting it in the opposing teams locker room is probably an attempt to do the same to the opposing team.
I watched a demonstration of that principle on the local news in San Diego. They used a big, strapping San Diego cop. He was given a large weight to lift. He did it with a big smile and total ease. Next, they made him look at a large card with the test shade of pink. He couldn't lift the weight. Some autonomic nervous system response caused an involuntary loss of physical strength.
That's exactly why Coach Fry, who had a PhD in Psychology, had the room painted pink. It was not a statement on the sexual persuasion of the opposing team members.
Obviously, the U of I has not given this new professor enough work to do.