NATCHEZ — Matthew Hall has spent the last few seasons serving as a color analyst on the radio broadcast for Cathedral High School football games.

His role with Green Wave athletics will have a fresh look this upcoming year.

Hall was recently named the head basketball coach of the boys program, taking over for Peter Arnold, who will remain as the girls basketball coach.

The 2006 Cathedral graduate said his hiring was particularly special based on the relationship he’s built with the school.

“I’m really excited, because Cathedral is a special place to me,” Hall said.

The 28 year old is a graduate of the University of Mississippi, and he received his MBA from Alcorn State.

Hall and his wife Elizabeth have one daughter, Abigail, who is turning 1 in approximately two weeks.

The head-coaching gig marks the first time Hall has been tapped as a coach.

Despite his inexperience, Hall said he is ready to learn on the job and teach the game of basketball to his players.

“I met the team (Thursday), and we had some good discussions,” Hall said. “We talked about how things have been run in the past and how I will run things.”

Hall admitted that while he was nervous initially about meeting the team, he was pleased with the interaction with the players.

“When you finally get to meet the kids, they are all looking up to you and ready to hear what you have say,” Hall said. “I told them straight forward how things are going to be done, and I let them ask me whatever questions they wanted.”

Hall said not only is he eager to teach a game he loves, but also to help inspire others to look fondly on the game.

“This is a big baseball and football town, but I also want basketball to be generally appreciated,” Hall said. “I would love for people to get more excited about basketball. I want basketball to become more of a priority and get more kids coming out to participate.”

Hall said he and his squad will get together more over the summer where he hopes to develop a strong rapport with the players.

“I’m really excited to be able to come back to Cathedral, a place and school that I love,” Hall said. “Cathedral has always been a part of my life, and to get to coach and be able to lead kids is awesome. I look forward to getting to know everybody in the Cathedral family better.”