  We calculate the coupling constants, $g_{\pi NS_{11}}$ and $g_{\eta NS_{11}},
using QCD sum rules in the presence of an external meson field. A covariant
derivative is introduced within the S_{11} interpolating field so that in the
nonrelativistic limit the field dominantly reduces to two quarks in the s-wave
state and one quark in the p-wave state. Our result for the couplings obtained
by further making use of the soft-meson theorem qualitatively agrees with its
phenomenological value extracted from the S_{11}(1535) decay width. The
prediction for the couplings however depend on the value of quark-gluon
condensate, $< {\bar q} g_s \sigma \cdot {\cal G} q >$, which is also important
in the calculation of the S_{11}(1535) mass itself within the sum rule
approach.
