Mr Hall, Tauranga Boys' College deputy principal, will start at Otago Boys' at the beginning of next year, replacing Clive Rennie, who is retiring after 14 years as rector.
''I've spent the majority of my life in the North Island so I'm a refugee coming home,'' he said.
Having been born in Dunedin and having his mother, sister and brother living in the city added to the job's attraction. He would be moving with wife Fran and children Lachlan (8) and Lucy (3).
''It is my old school and having the opportunity to go back to lead it is very exciting.''
Mr Hall (43) has spent 18 years of his 20-year teaching career in boys' schools: Rotorua Boys' High School and Napier Boys' High School, then Tauranga Boys' College from 2009.
His first challenge as rector would be to establish himself in the school community and get to know the school again. He was a pupil in 1987 and 1988.
He had been tasked with raising the profile of the school and academic achievement, Mr Hall said.
Board of trustees chairman Geoff Bates said the search for a new rector had been comprehensive and had attracted widespread interest and a ''very high calibre'' of applicants.
Mr Hall had a strong background and passion in boys' education, as well as a fine sense of the school's traditions and heritage, Mr Bates said.
He placed a strong focus on collaboration involving the school community and the wider education community.
