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They left a seat open in his honor on Thursday. On the day John Feinstein passed away, the Atlantic 10 conference, whose stories he had shared over the decades, paid tribute to him during their men’s basketball tournament by leaving his press row seat vacant. It was one of many ways people honored the legendary sportswriter and Farmville resident, who died at his brother’s house in McLean. 

“John was a legendary storyteller who built lasting relationships with our coaches, players and administrators,” A10 Commissioner Bernadette McGlade wrote in a statement posted to the conference’s social media account. “College basketball lost a hall of fame writer, and we will miss his presence on the sidelines at our championship each March.” 

The prolific 68-year-old author, whose latest column ran Thursday in the Washington Post, was praised by people across the sports spectrum Thursday. The author of more than 30 books covered all sports, showing up through the decades on multiple media platforms. Even for those who didn’t always like him, Feinstein’s work demanded respect, they said. 

“He could be the most charming guy in the room and the guy you want to throw out the room, but he was always a compelling figure,” Chicago sportswriter Michael Wilborn, who is also a co-host on ESPN’s Pardon the Interruption, said during Thursday’s show. “He was a complicated man, brimming with opinions and anyone who knew John had an opinion about him. Coaches in the industry, everybody is calling each other to tell stories about John.” 

And above all, John Feinstein made people think, be it in his books, on tv or through radio. 

“There was never a moment with John that you weren’t challenged to think about things in an elevated way,” Jay Bilas wrote on social media. “He cut right to the heart of things.” 

‘He had fallen in love with the program’ 

Here in Farmville, he was also a part of the Longwood University community, serving as the school’s writer-in-residence, co-teaching a writing class this semester and providing color commentary for the men’s basketball games. A recent transplant, who had moved to Farmville in the summer of 2024, Feinstein could also often be seen at Merks or Uptown Cafe having breakfast with Longwood men’s basketball coach Griff Aldrich. 

“Known for his bluntness, John had a big heart for the things he loved. He fell in love with Farmville – and I believe he fell in love with Longwood and Longwood basketball,” Aldrich said. “While he used the guise of being our color commentator – John was a regular at our practices because he had fallen in love with the program and our team. Always with an honest critique (sometimes too honest), John felt ownership in this new community that was embracing him.” 

Aldrich said Feinstein was always an encouragement, but never at the expense of absolute honesty.  

“Longwood and our broader Farmville community lost not only a good man today, but one who saw the special character of our town, county and university,” he added. 

Feinstein’s co-teacher in the writing class at Longwood, the school’s chief of staff Justin Pope, said the hall of fame writer found enjoyment over the last few months in working with their students. 

“He loved talking to students about finding stories, about asking questions, about writing,” Pope said. “And it was an incredible opportunity for them to learn from one of the most successful sportswriters of all time. His family told me the night before he passed away, he was telling them about his Longwood students. He will be missed.”

Farmville’s mayor Brian Vincent meanwhile praised Feinstein’s love of life. 

“The Town of Farmville and Longwood University have lost a champion and a friend,” Vincent said. “My wife and I were there at John’s “welcome to town” dinner party and it was such a joy to listen to a gifted storyteller hold court. His love of basketball was a love of life. We hold his family and friends in that love and extend our prayers.” 

Looking back on the career of John Feinstein

John Feinstein got his start back in 1977 as a police reporter. Soon, the Duke graduate’s focus shifted to sports, covering everything from college basketball to golf and the Olympics. Over 48 years, he wrote 44 books. Several of those books were turned into tv productions. A Season on the Brink was made into a movie by ESPN, while Caddy for Life became a Golf Channel documentary. 

Over time, he produced a regular column for the Washington Post, wrote for Golf Digest and also appeared regularly as a sports analyst on tv and radio. One of those places was 106.7 The FAN, Washington D.C.’s home for sports talk radio, where he was a frequent contributor to “The Sports Junkies” show. 

“A master storyteller and fearless reporter, John brought us behind the scenes of the most intriguing teams, and into the real lives of the most interesting sports figures,” officials from 106.7 FM posted in a statement to social media. “We were so lucky to have his sharp insights as a regular contributor to 106.7 The Fan for over 13 years.” 

Feinstein died of natural causes at his brother’s home in McLean on Thursday. He leaves behind his wife, Christine Bauch, and three children, Danny, Brigid and Jayne, as well as his brother Robert and his sister Margaret.