Nebraska coach Matt Rhule confirmed Monday that Brett Maher, a 10-year NFL veteran who played for Nebraska from 2008 to 2012, has joined the Husker coaching staff. Maher, who has been with the program since the start of the season, will attend practices and special teams meetings and is expected to travel with the team to Purdue.

“Brett had been an advisor to Ed (Foley) for a while and Ed used him as a sounding board and showed him some video,” Rhule said. “… With the new (NCAA coaching staff limits) rule, we went to (NU Athletic Director) Troy (Dannen) and all those guys and asked if we could add him to the staff.”

Maher’s experience will be crucial as Nebraska navigates uncertain territory. Sophomore Tristan Alvano, the returning starter at the position, is still dealing with the aftermath of a groin injury and didn’t play Friday as a result.

Rhule said the Huskers, after shutting down Alvano midweek in hopes he would recover at some point this season, will wait “as many weeks as it takes” to get Alvano fully healthy again.

Hohl made all three extra points but missed a crucial field goal Friday. Rhule said “the game shouldn’t have come down to that play” and added that Hohl will be “an excellent kicker.”

Nebraska will need a top player from Hohl as soon as possible, as the Lincoln native is expected to take Alvano’s spot.

“To go from not kicking a shot to all of a sudden kicking the game-winning shot in Memorial Stadium with the whole world watching, it’s a lot,” Rhule said of Hohl. “… But when you’re a Nebraska Cornhusker, we’ve got to make these plays.”