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 op
erators 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.
