The justification is generally that these football programs pay for themselves with ticket sales, merchandising, and segregated fundraising. I know that at my p

The justification is generally that these football programs pay for themselves with ticket sales, merchandising, and segregated fundraising. I know that at my private alma mater (Duke), Coach K makes many times the salary of President Brodhead and it's still a net positive income for the school. Whether that's a business that universities should be in is a question for another day.