  We calculate the strong couplings of pions to the Delta(1232) resonance using
a QCD parameterization method that includes in addition to the usual one-quark
also two-quark and previously uncalculated three-quark operators. We find that
three-quark operators are necessary to obtain results consistent with the data
and other QCD based baryon structure models. Our results are also in
quantitative agreement with a model employing large D state admixtures to the
nucleon and Delta wave functions indicating that the pion-nucleon and
pion-Delta couplings are sensitive to the spatial shape of these baryons.
